22 May 2019
ams has signed an agreement to team with Ibeo Automotive Systems, the German specialist for automotive LiDAR sensor technology, and ZF Friedrichshafen, experts in solid-state LiDAR technology, to advance solid-state LiDAR technology for use in autonomous driving.
The three companies will partner on joint R&D efforts with a view to make the technology quickly and safely adopted by 2021.
LiDAR is an optical sensing technology that measures distance and direction of the surrounding objects by illuminating them with a laser beam and detecting the reflection of the object. Its range and resolution properties complement radar and camera solutions to enable the ‘Holy Grail’ of the self-driving car industry – SAE level 5* or fully autonomous driving.
ams will provide automotive-grade VCSEL (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser) arrays and drivers which it says will provide superior reliability and stability compared to competing light sources, such as edge emitters and LED.
ams says it is the first to market with solid-state LiDAR illumination solutions, meaning no mechanical parts are needed to steer the light beam direction, improving reliability while reducing complexity, size, weight, and cost. Due to the high reliability and small form factor, it believes that solid-state LiDAR will pave the way for massive LiDAR deployment in the automotive segment.
“LiDAR is already a key technology in the automotive sector, and to date our leading products are used with automotive companies in Europe and worldwide. The combination of our solution know-how with ams’ VCSEL technology will create a tipping point for solid-state LiDAR in the automotive sector,” said Dr. Ulrich Lages, CEO, Ibeo Automotive Systems.
Author
Bethan Grylls