Velodyne Lidar, Inc. today introduced Velabit™, Velodyne’s smallest sensor
which brings new levels of versatility and affordability to 3D lidar
perception, at CES 2020. The Velabit leverages Velodyne’s innovative lidar
technology and manufacturing partnerships for cost optimization and high-volume
production. The sensor advances Velodyne’s mission to make high-quality 3D
lidar sensors readily accessible to everyone.
The Velabit perfectly complements Velodyne’s
sensor portfolio. The sensor delivers the same technology and performance found
on Velodyne’s full suite of state-of-the-art sensors and will be the catalyst
for creating endless possibilities for new applications in a variety of
industries. The compact Velabit can be embedded almost anywhere within
vehicles, robots, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), infrastructure and more. It
is designed to be easy to manufacture at mass production levels.
The Velabit is engineered to be an optimal
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 Bicyclist Safety. Highly configurable for customer application, this
mid-range sensor can be combined with other Velodyne lidar sensors, such as the
Velarray™, for high-speed operation or function as a standalone lidar solution
in low-speed applications.
The Velabit addresses the cost, safety and
design challenges of autonomous solutions while delivering strong sensor
performance. Here are the Velabit’s leading features:
- Integrated processing in a compact size of 2.4” x 2.4” x
1.38” – smaller than a deck of playing cards – to be easily embedded in a wide
range of solutions.
- Range up to 100 meters.
- Outstanding field of view (FoV): 60-degree horizontal FoV x
10-degree vertical FoV.
- Highly configurable to support a range of applications.
- 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.
“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,”
said Anand Gopalan, Chief Executive Officer, Velodyne Lidar. “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.”
“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,” said Alberto Lacaze, president, Robotic
Research. “Since Robotic Research’s Pegasus MiniTM 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.”
The Velabit will be
available to customers mid-2020. Velodyne provides world-class technical
support for the sensor across North America, Europe and Asia.
