Driven by the prospering development of autonomous driving technology, LiDAR companies across the world continue to expand their business and present new products.
Many LiDAR builders reported their updates in both technology and business progresses in 2019. Following these news, LEDinside would like to share with our readers updates of the LiDAR industry in the past year.
(Image: Ouster/NVIDIA)
Velodyne Lidar Partners Hyundai Mobis for ADAS and Supports Varied Applications
In 2019, the mechanical LiDAR expert has introduced several new LiDAR products and announced cooperation with partnerships covering a wide range of applications including autonomous driving, ADAS technology, mapping, robotics and more.
Velodyne LiDAR teamed up with Hyundai Mobis to launch a LiDAR-based ADAS. The Korean automotive product suppler would invest US$50 million in Velodyne with the aim to commercialize advanced LiDAR system in 2021. Meanwhile, Velodyne acquired Mapper.ai, a mapping and localization software developer to push its development in ADAS solution.
(Image: Velodyne Lidar/Hyundai Mobis)
For application, the company joined force with HoloMatic in China for autonomous parking service and supported Techmake Solution in Mexico for mapping and surveying natural resource in Central and South America. Velodyne also offer its LiDAR to self-driving buses and vehicles to Optimus Ride and Idriveplus respectively.
Meanwhile, Velodyne LiDAR also won a patent litigation agains Quanergy relating to a LiDAR based 3D point cloud measuring system. The company also filed a patent infringement lawsuit against China’s Hesai Photonics Technology and RoboSense.
Ouster LiDAR Joins Force with NVIDIA and Supports Food Delivery Startup Postmates
Ouster is the LiDAR startup known for producing low cost mechanical LiDAR. The company expanded its business to Europe and Asia in 2019, opening new offices in Paris, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
The company supplied its LiDAR sensors to NVIDIA DRIVE platform for applications including public transportation, freight, refuse and recycling collection, construction, and mining. The cooperation aimed to push commercialized level 3 to level 5 autonomous driving system.
On the other hand, Ouster’s LiDAR sensors were adopted by autonomous food delivery startup Postmates who has also worked with Velodyne Lidar for the previous autonomous delivering rover. The company also supported Ike’s automated truckng applications.
(Image: Ouster/Postmates)
Last week, both Velodyne and Ouster debuted their latest LiDAR products. Ouster introduced its OS1-32, which, according to Ouster, is the world’s most affordable 32-channel LiDAR sensor, targeting research project, robotics and commercial applications.
(Image: Velodyne Lidar)
Velodyne launched Alpha Prime, featuring better power efficiency, advanced perception and field-of-view.
