Velodyne announces a solid state LiDAR sensor for self-driving cars
【Summary】California based Velodyne LiDAR Inc., a leading manufacturer of LiDAR (light detection and ranging) sensors used on self-driving vehicles, has just announced a new solid state LiDAR sensor. Velodyne calls its new design the “Velarray”.

By Eric Walz
Morgan Hill, California based Velodyne LiDAR Inc., a leading manufacturer of LiDAR (light detection and ranging) sensors used on self-driving vehicles, has just announced a new solid state LiDAR sensor. Velodyne calls its new design the "Velarray". Solid state refers to systems based entirely on the semiconductor, meaning the new Velarray has no moving parts, and it is smaller, less expensive, and more reliable than its predecessors. With its new technology, Velodyne can help make autonomous vehicles more affordable.
LiDAR evolution
Early LiDAR systems were bulky and expensive. Velodyne first supplied Google with its LiDAR systems in 2009, where they were used in Google's early self-driving vehicles. These early LiDAR sensors were easily recognizable as a large, bulky, cylindrical lidar sensor mounted high on the roof of Google's early, self-driving test vehicles. Velodyne has also supplied LiDAR sensors to Ford and Volvo.
Although these early systems were very sophisticated, they were not solid state. Velodyne's first LiDAR sensors resembled a large spinning bucket when mounted to the roof of a test vehicle, which made these early self-driving cars stand out on public roads. Respectively, these early LiDAR sensors were an important part of the development and testing self-driving car technology. However, the large, spinning sensor design was impractical for the future, scalable commercialization of autonomous vehicles.
Solid state LiDAR sensors are much smaller
According to Velodyne, the new Velarray LiDAR sensor uses Velodyne's proprietary ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits) to achieve superior performance metrics in a small package size of 125mm x 50mm x 55mm (4.9 x 1.7 x 2.1 inches) that can be embedded into the front, sides, and corners of vehicles.
"The Velarray enables not only fully autonomous vehicles, but also ADAS (advanced driver assist) systems such as adaptive cruise control, while at the same time providing a miniature form factor and mass production target prices," said Mike Jellen, President & Chief Commercial Officer, Velodyne LiDAR. "It offers a unique value proposition empowering a vehicle system that improves the safe driving experience, alongside an upgraded path to full autonomy."
Velodyne's New Velarray LiDAR Sensor
Velarray specifications
The Velarray provides up to a 120-degree horizontal and 35-degree vertical field-of-view, with a 200-meter (656 ft) range even for low-reflectivity (dark) objects. The 35-degree vertical field of view allows the sensor to "see" up and down steep hills.
According to Velodyne, the Velarray will ensure safe operation in Level 4 and Level 5 autonomous vehicles, as well as advanced driver assist system (ADAS) enabled cars. Level 4 vehicles are designed to perform all safety-critical driving functions and monitor roadway conditions for an entire trip, autonomously. Level 5 is an autonomous performance equal to that of a human driver.
Lower priced LiDAR
Velodyne expects a target price in the hundreds of dollars for the Velarray when produced in mass volumes. This is significantly lower than Velodyne's original LiDAR sensors, which reported cost $80,000 each, and were custom made for Google. One of the early drawbacks hindering the mass production and rollout of autonomous technology has been the expensive manufacturing costs of the necessary LiDAR technology.
Demonstration of the new technology
Velodyne has announced a scheduled customer demonstration of its new technology for the summer of 2017, with engineering sample units available of the Velarray by the end of 2017 ahead of production in 2018. Velodyne states the new Velarray sensors will be produced in scale at the company's new Silicon Valley "mega factory" in San Jose, California.
Velodyne also has competition in the solid state LiDAR market. Another Silicon Valley based start-up Quanergy, is currently working on a solid state LiDAR sensor that fits inside of a vehicle's headlight.
resource from: businesswire.com
-
Ford is Testing a New Robotic Charging Station to Assist Drivers of EVs With Disabilities
-
Ford Raises the Prices of the F-150 Lightning Electric Pickup Due to Rising Raw Material Costs
-
The BMW 7-Series to Feature HD Live Maps From HERE Technologies for Hands-Free Highway Driving in North America at Speeds up to 80 MPH
-
AutoX to Use the 'Eyeonic Vision Sensor' from California-based SiLC Technologies for its Robotaxi Fleet in China
-
LG Develops ‘Invisible’ Speaker Sound Technology That Could Revolutionize In-Vehicle Audio
-
Researchers at South Korea’s Chung-Ang University Develop a ‘Meta-Reinforcement’ Machine Learning Algorithm for Traffic Lights to Improve Vehicle Throughput
-
Zeekr’s New 009 Electric Passenger Van is the World’s First EV to Feature CATL’s Advanced ‘Qilin’ Battery With a Range of 510 Miles
-
Redwood Materials is Building an Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling Facility in South Carolina
- Volkswagen Breaks Ground on the First of Six European Battery Cell Factories as Part of a $20 Billion Investment
- NHTSA Opens Investigations Into Two New Fatal Tesla Accidents
- BorgWarner to Supply its Integrated Drive Module to Hyundai for a New EV That Will Enter Production in 2024
- Panasonic Announces Multi-Year Agreement to Supply Electric Vehicle Batteries to Lucid Group
- EV Startup Fisker Announces ‘Fisker Finance’ a Digital Financing Platform for Purchasing the Electric Ocean SUV
- Zeekr’s New 009 Electric Passenger Van is the World’s First EV to Feature CATL’s Advanced ‘Qilin’ Battery With a Range of 510 Miles
- Volkswagen Group of America President and CEO is Appointed to Lead the Automaker's New Electric Off-Road Truck Division ‘Scout’
- Audi Rebrands its Premium Car Rental Service to ‘Audi on demand’
- Volvo’s Electric Vehicle Brand Polestar Reports $1 Billion in Revenue in the First Half of 2022, Adds 6 New Global Markets
- Ford Reportedly Dropping 2024 Mustang Hybrid