Velodyne Announces New Miniature LiDAR Sensor

Velodyne Lidar has announced the introduction of Velabit, the company’s smallest sensor designed to be embedded in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), autonomous vehicles and robotics. The sensor is designed to be easily mass-produced and to make high-quality 3D lidar sensing readily accessible to a wide audience.

The Velabit is particularly suited as an automotive-grade lidar solution for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and autonomous vehicles. It enables robust perception coverage for blind-spot monitoring, cross-traffic detection, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian and cyclist safety. The highly configurable Velabit can be combined with other Velodyne lidar sensors, such as the Velarray, for higher-speed operation, or function as a standalone lidar solution in low-speed applications.

Features of the Velabit include:

• Compact size of 2.4″ x 2.4″ x 1.38″
• Range of up to 100 meters
• 60-degree horizontal FoV x 10-degree vertical FoV.
• Proven Class 1 eye-safe 903 nanometer technology
• Bottom connector with cable length options
• Multiple manufacturing sources scheduled to be available for qualified production projects

Anand Gopalan, Chief Executive Officer, Velodyne Lidar, commented: “The Velabit democratizes lidar with its ultra-small form factor and its sensor pricing targeted at $100 in high-volume production, making 3D lidar available for all safety-critical applications. Its combination of performance, size and price position the Velabit to drive a quantum leap in the number of lidar-powered applications. The sensor delivers what the industry has been seeking: a breakthrough innovation that can jump-start a new era of autonomous solutions on a global scale.”

Alberto Lacaze, president, Robotic Research, stated: “Before the Velabit there was no suitable small and lightweight lidar for small unmanned aerial vehicles and unmanned ground vehicles performing obstacle avoidance or mapping. Since Robotic Research’s Pegasus Mini is a fully autonomous ground and air vehicle, it requires the Velabit’s size and versatility. In addition, the Velabit enables the most advanced GPS-denied HD mapping in the industry. The Velabit fills a much-needed space in the market and is currently in a class of its own.”

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