AEye’s Apollo lidar sensor has achieved outstanding results during recent field testing where it consistently delivered high-resolution data on vehicles and other objects on a busy freeway from more than 1 kilometer away, according to a news release from the company.

AEye says its “breakthrough” is believed to be a first within the lidar industry. Apollo is the first product in the company’s 4Sight flex next-generation family of lidar sensors and delivers range and resolution in a small, power-efficient, low-cost form factor, according to AEye.

Apollo’s ability to gather detailed, high quality data from long distances is crucial for automotive applications in allowing advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) to detect objects from a longer distance, giving drivers more time to respond more effectively, especially at high speeds, AEye said in the release.

The release says tests have been done by AEye with customers, Tier 1 partners, and OEMs.

“The fact that we can deliver this kind of performance makes a strong case for 1550-nanometer technology as OEMs and others seek an ultra-long-range high-speed lidar solution in a small form factor,” said Matt Fisch, AEye CEO, in the release.

“We believe Apollo’s performance at over 1 kilometer is the longest distance achieved by any lidar sensor ever evaluated outside of a laboratory setting.”

Fisch added that AEye believes Apollo can meet all of the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration’s (NHTSA) safety performance requirements, including its newest requirement — automatic emergency braking (AEB) effective at speeds up to 90 miles per hour.

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard, FMVSS 127, will require AEB and pedestrian AEB to come standard by September 2029 on all passenger cars and light trucks weighing up to 10,000 pounds.

By then, AEB must stop and avoid rear-end crashes at up to 62 miles per hour and detect pedestrians in daylight and at night.

The standard will require AEB to engage at up to 90 mph when a collision with a lead vehicle is imminent, and up to 45 mph when a pedestrian is detected.

“High-resolution data collection at long distances is essential for enhancing automotive safety and security applications,” he said. “AI-based decision-making systems are significantly enhanced by long-range high-resolution data across a wide field of view allowing for quick identification and more time to react to objects and threats, which is particularly crucial for vehicle safety at highway speeds.

“Another benefit of Apollo is that it can significantly offload front-end complexity from AI-models which can expedite the development and deployment of embodied AI systems. We’re excited to continue leading innovation in this space while pushing the boundaries of what is possible with Apollo.”

Apollo supports options for integration behind the windshield, on the roof, or in the grille. The sensor was unveiled at the Auto Lidar Tech Conference in Suzhou, China in June 2024.

Images

Featured image: Rendering of lidar pedestrian detection technology. (Credit: Ayman Hussain/iStock)

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