According to data insights from BIS Research, the automotive LiDAR system-on-chip (SoC) market is expected to be valued at $29.3 million in 2024, which is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 24.30% and reach $207.5 million by 2033.
Aeva, a California-based leading sensing and perception technology company had set foot in the Auto Shanghai 2023, a renowned international automotive trade show that provides car manufacturers and automotive suppliers with an exceptional opportunity to showcase their latest technologies and products, as well as to share information and build new business relationships.
Aeva showcased its patented 4D Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology for automotives at the event in Shanghai, China that started on April 18th and ended on April 27th, 2023, respectively.
Read the complete story to know more about the exhibition of this latest 4D LiDAR technology and how it can aid autonomous vehicles.
Auto Shanghai 2023: At the Booth
At booth 2.2H 2BA012 in the National Exhibition and Convention Center Shanghai, visitors to the Aeva booth had the opportunity to witness the advanced sensing and perception technology specially designed for various automotive applications, such as advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous vehicles.
Through demo drives, few attendees had a chance to experience this cutting-edge technology firsthand, making the event an exhilarating display of the future of the automotive industry.
Aeva’s Aeries II sensor and 4D LiDAR-on-chip technology were on full display, which claims to offer multiple advantages over traditional 3D LiDAR sensors.
Traditional LiDAR systems use time of flight measurements, which involves measuring the time it takes for a laser pulse to travel to an object and back to the sensor.
Aeva's Aeries II sensor, on the other hand, uses frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) technology, which allows for continuous measurements of distance and velocity. This results in higher resolution and accuracy, as well as the ability to track multiple objects simultaneously.
Distinctive Features of Aeries II
Aeries II has integrated with Aeva’s frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) 4D technology and the world's first LiDAR-on-chip silicon photonics design.
Aeries II features camera-level ultra resolution, providing up to 20 times the resolution of conventional LiDAR sensors. This enables automated vehicles to detect small road hazards at highway speeds and detect objects at twice the distance of current LiDAR sensors.
Aeva has also integrated 4D localization into its Aeries II technology, which enables real-time ego vehicle motion estimation with six degrees of freedom, allowing accurate vehicle positioning and navigation in GPS-denied and featureless environments.
Moreover, this LiDAR technology uses instant velocity data, which offers high confidence detection and tracking of dynamic objects at distances up to 500 meters, such as oncoming vehicles and pedestrians.
Its compact and configurable design is 75% smaller than its predecessor- Aeries, allowing it to be integrated into a wide range of automotive and non-automotive applications.
Aeries II has automotive-grade ratings for ingress, impact, temperature, and shock and vibration, making it an all-around reliable system.
The Aeries II sensor is immune to interference from sunlight and other LiDAR sensors, ensuring optimal performance in various lighting conditions and near other LiDAR-equipped vehicles, avoiding collisions and inaccuracy.
Aeva's Aeries II sensor stands out as the initial sensor available that incorporates Aeva's distinct LiDAR-on-chip technology. This innovative design seamlessly combines essential sensor elements such as transmitters, receivers, and optics into a compact silicon photonics module.
This innovative design is a significant advancement from the traditional LiDAR systems that require multiple components and fiber connections, making them bulky, expensive, and difficult to manufacture.
LiDAR-on-chip technology eliminates the use of fiber optics, leading to a significantly automated manufacturing process. This, in turn, enables Aeva to manufacture at a large scale and reduce costs to cater to the requirements of automotive OEMs and other high-volume customers.
This LiDAR-on-chip innovation also allows for the miniaturization of the LiDAR system, making it possible to integrate it into smaller autonomous vehicles, including drones and robots.
Moreover, the mass production capability of LiDAR system-on-chip is crucial for the adoption of autonomous vehicles, which require reliable and cost-effective LiDAR systems to operate safely and efficiently. This is also a major factor driving growth in the market.
What happened at CES 2023?
Aeva and Plus, a global provider of highly automated driving and fully autonomous driving solutions, revealed the design of their next-generation autonomous truck, which features Aeva’s Aeries II 4D LiDAR sensor, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2023, which took place in January.
The new truck is equipped with PlusDrive, a highly automated driving solution that enables Level 2++ (L2++) supervised autonomy.
The Aeries II 4D LiDAR sensor senses precise velocity and position for each point, allowing PlusDrive to detect safety-critical objects, place them in lanes, and assign an accurate velocity at very long ranges.
“Today’s announcement is a milestone in our partnership which gives Plus access to the unparalleled performance of our Aeries II 4D LiDAR sensor,” said Mina Rezk, Co-founder and CTO at Aeva.
He added, “Plus is deploying safe automated commercial vehicle technology, and we are pleased to work with them on the design for their next-generation production vehicles.”
This partnered technology will be especially valuable for providing safety to heavy-duty trucks that take much longer to stop than passenger cars.
Conclusion
As the demand for self-driving cars grows, LiDAR technology will become even more essential in ensuring the safety of passengers and other road users.
Moreover, advancements in LiDAR technology are making it more affordable and compact such as Aeva’s Aeries II LiDAR system on chip sensor, which will enable it to be integrated into a wider range of vehicles.
However, the versatility of LiDAR means that its potential applications extend far beyond just autonomous vehicles, with potential uses in areas such as mapping, agriculture, and urban planning. For example, LiDAR sensors could be integrated into delivery drones or robots to help them navigate and avoid obstacles or even into virtual and augmented reality applications for enhanced immersion and realism.
As LiDAR technology becomes more widely available, we can expect to see it become a ubiquitous feature in a variety of industries and applications, leading to a safer and more efficient future.
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