Press release

Velodyne Lidar Introduces Velabit™

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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.

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Velabit™, Velodyne Lidar’s smallest sensor, brings new levels of versatility and affordability to 3D ...

Velabit™, Velodyne Lidar’s smallest sensor, brings new levels of versatility and affordability to 3D lidar perception. (Photo: Velodyne Lidar)

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 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.”

The Velabit will be available to customers mid-2020. Velodyne provides
world-class technical support for the sensor across North America,
Europe and Asia. It is now on display at Velodyne Lidar’s CES 2020 booth
located at the Las Vegas Convention Center North Hall – booth #7520.

About Velodyne Lidar

Velodyne provides smart, powerful lidar solutions for autonomy and
driver assistance. Headquartered in San Jose, Calif., Velodyne is known
worldwide for its portfolio of breakthrough lidar sensor technologies.
Velodyne’s Founder, David Hall, invented real-time surround view lidar
systems in 2005 as part of Velodyne Acoustics. Mr. Hall’s invention
revolutionized perception and autonomy for automotive, new mobility,
mapping, robotics, and security. Velodyne’s high-performance product
line includes a broad range of sensing solutions, including the
cost-effective Puck™, the versatile Ultra Puck™, the autonomy-advancing
Alpha Prime™, the ADAS-optimized Velarray™ and the groundbreaking
software for driver assistance, Vella™.