ams, Ibeo, ZF join forces for solid-state automotive lidar
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, lidar is considered an indispensable sensing technology for automated driving. Its unique range and resolution properties complement radar and camera solutions – and the `Holy Grail’ of the lidar technology is currently the solid-state approach because it enables building lidar sensors with no moving parts in them. The absence of moving parts makes the sensors much more lightweight, robust and compact, and it enables manufacturers to offer them at a significantly lower price than available systems that use rotating mirrors.
ams now announced that will provide automotive-grade VCSEL (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser) arrays and drivers which provide superior reliability and stability compared to competing light sources, such as edge emitters and LED. The Austrian semiconductor manufacturer claims to be 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.
“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.
“Being the first to market with solid-state lidar means ams brings a unique capability to Ibeo and ZF,” said Alexander Everke, CEO, ams. “Together with Ibeo’s leading solutions and integration capability, coupled with its deep experience in lidar we will provide an unmatched solution for auto- motive manufacturers in their quest to create the mission-critical reliability required for autonomous driving.”
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