Honda backs SiLC for LiDAR systems
SiLC Technologies (SiLC) has received an investment from Honda to develop next-generation FMCW LiDAR for its vehicles.
SiLC has developed an integrated frequency modulated continuous wave single chip LiDAR for machine vision. The unspecified funding, through Honda Xcelerator Ventures, is a key part of achieving zero traffic collisions by 2050.
“SiLC is the industry leader in the research and development of FMCW LiDAR, which is capable of detecting vehicles and various obstacles from long distances – and Honda has high expectations for its potential,” said Manabu Ozawa, Managing Executive Officer of Honda Motor. “Honda is striving for zero traffic collision fatalities involving our motorcycles and automobiles globally by 2050. We believe that SiLC’s advanced LiDAR technology will become an important technology for us. Honda continues to discover, collaborate with and invest in innovative startups like SiLC through our global open innovation program, Honda Xcelerator Ventures.”
The AI vision capabilities of FMCW LiDAR autonomously detect hazards, predict movements and prevent accidents can significantly enhance safety, efficiency, and reliability. This paves the way for autonomous transportation says Honda to reduce traffic congestion and minimizing human error on the roads.
Current radar and 2D/3D vision systems struggle with detecting dark objects, such as tires, at distances of a couple of hundred meters. They also have difficulty distinguishing between slow-moving and stationary vehicles for effective evasive actions. Most time-of-flight LiDARs suffer from interference caused by sunlight, retro reflectors, and other LiDAR systems. SiLC’s FMCW LiDAR overcomes these obstacles by detecting objects at distances of a kilometer or more with precise distance measurements and can measure the velocity of objects, allowing the system to predict their movements accurately.
The SiLC Eyeonic Sensor and Vision System uses FMCW LiDAR for more accurate vision capabilities, addressing the critical need for accurate, real-time perception in various sectors to enable the level of dexterity and hand-eye coordination needed for all tasks.
“This investment from Honda, the world’s largest mobility vehicle manufacturer, will accelerate our progress toward a society with fully autonomous solutions that enhance our safety and address our widely spread labor shortages across many critical markets,” said Dr. Mehdi Asghari, CEO of SiLC Technologies. “Our silicon photonics platform offers a powerful, low-cost, efficient and scalable FMCW LiDAR engine, which is essential for the high volumes required by the automotive industry. SiLC’s FMCW LiDAR solutions bring superior vision to machines to truly enable the next generation of AI-based automation and move us closer to a more intelligent, interconnected future.”
SiLC was founded in 2018 by silicon photonics industry veterans and is backed by Dell Technologies Capital, Sony Innovation Fund by IGV, FLUXUNIT – ams OSRAM Ventures, Alter Venture Partners and Epson.
If you enjoyed this article, you will like the following ones: don't miss them by subscribing to :
