New Velodyne Solid State Lidar Module Aimed at AMRs, Last-Mile Robots
December 09, 2020
Velodyne Lidar today announced its Velarray M1600, a solid-state lidar sensor designed to serve mobile robotic applications, including autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and last-mile delivery robots.
The module is the latest of the company’s Vellaray products and the first in a new M-series line. It uses Velodyne’s micro-lidar array architecture (MLA) and leverages Velodyne’s manufacturing partnerships to optimize costs and produce in high volumes, the company said.
“The Velarray M1600 lidar sensor is the latest proof point for Velodyne’s innovation track record,” said Anand Gopalan, Velodyne Lidar CEO. “The sensor was designed for high volume mobile robotic applications with direct input from robotics and last-mile delivery customers.”
The company said the durable and compact sensor can be deployed in several environments and weather conditions, enabling 24-by-7 usage nearly every day of the year. It includes near-field perception up to 30 meters, and a 32-degree field of view, which allows robots to travel in unstructured and dynamic environments. This includes areas such as urban streets and indoor corridors, which could include warehouses, retail centers, industrial plants, and medical facilities, Velodyne said. The company also provides Vella software, which utilizes Velarray M1600 data for object and hazard detection, to protect roadway users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and pets.
Environmental conditions that the M1600 supports for AMRs include temperature, lighting, and precipitation. The sensor can be mounted externally to a robot, but can also be embedded into robotic systems. With an available Robot Operating System (ROS) driver, the M1600 includes a user-friendly interface for developers, with modest power demands so robots can operate longer between battery charges. Velodyne says samples will be available to qualified customers in about 6 to 8 weeks.
More details on the M1600 are available on the company’s website.
