Sensor specialists Aeva and SICK have announced a multi-year collaboration to bring the former company’s Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave 4D LiDAR technology to a variety of industrial sensing applications.
The solution is said to provide unique perception advantages over other sensing technologies like cameras and legacy 3D LiDAR sensors. This includes improved dynamic range performance to perceive low and high reflectivity targets within the same measurement without edge effects, allowing automated machinery to transition easily from indoor to outdoor operation.
The sensors are also immune to blooming and ghosting from retroreflectors, meaning automated machines using these sensors will have clear perception when highly reflective objects such as safety vests, cones and tape are in its field of view.
Aeva’s 4D LiDAR technology is designed for a wide variety of applications including detection to support autonomy for cars, trucks, people and goods mobility, as well as non-automotive applications including industrial automation, smart infrastructure and warehouse automation.
SICK’s executive board member responsible for technology and digitisation, Dr Niels Syassen, said: “We are pleased to partner with Aeva and work closely together to bring its FMCW technology to high performance industrial sensing applications.
“We are convinced that their unique approach to FMCW technology, which includes instant velocity detection and long range performance, will provide new opportunities for us and our customers in a variety of industrial sensing applications where traditional time of flight LiDAR technologies are challenged.”
Aeva CEO and co-founder Soroush Salehian added: “SICK is one of the foremost leaders in industrial sensing solutions and this partnership is a major step forward for the advancement of high performance and reliable FMCW based sensing across a broad set of industrial applications.
“This strategic collaboration is a testament to the industry leading performance and versatility of our unique 4D LiDAR technology for scaled deployment in industrial applications.”