Sense Photonics Launches MultiRange Feature on New Lidar System
June 14, 2021
Sense Photonics, which develops automotive flash Lidar solutions, has announced a system that delivers high-resolution long-range capability and a mid-range capability with a wider field of view (FoV) simultaneously in a single shot, using a single sensor.
The company’s new MultiRange capability allows a vehicle to detect the road profile, road debris, and lane markings at long distances and also detect traffic in adjacent lanes without requiring multiple sensor heads, Sense Photonics said.
“A comprehensive lidar solution in vehicles must be able to detect objects up to 200 meters directly ahead, while also being aware of cars changing lanes within 50 meters in front of the vehicle,” said Hod Finkelstein, CTO of Sense Photonics. “Legacy lidar systems can either deliver long range capabilities with fine angular resolution or mid-range imaging with a broad field of view, thus requiring OEMs to integrate multiple systems in the vehicle for complete coverage. These legacy solutions increase the overall system cost, complexity, and power consumption. With our unique flash architecture, we can deliver multiple fields of view with stunning clarity, efficiently and without data gaps – within a single sensor.”
Sense said it can accomplish this performance by a combination of its proprietary VCSEL laser array, which houses tens of thousands of lasers on a single substrate, paired with its proprietary CMOS SPAD silicon receiver, which can detect single-photon-level detail with every return. Similar to a car’s headlights, Sense’s emitter technology uses a diffused beam to simultaneously illuminate the entire FoV. Global shutter acquisition allows for a consistently high-resolution point cloud across the FoV without motion artifacts, the company added.
Sense said the new feature is currently being tested with automotive OEMs and autonomous vehicle solutions providers. “Automotive companies expect high-performance systems but at a price that will scale,” said Sense CEO Shauna McIntyre. “By delivering ultra-high resolution point clouds across multiple fields of view with a single sensor, we allow companies a comprehensive solution for both short- and long-range sensor needs at a fraction of the cost.”
For more details on Sense Photonics, visit the company’s website.
