Sick and Aeva Partner to bring 4D lidar to industrial sensing

02 Aug 2022

Automation technology sensor firm chooses FMCW 4D LiDAR for “high performance sensing”.

Aeva’s Aeries ii is said to be the first 4D lidar with camera-level resolution. Inset: the lidar unit scaled next to a US dime.

Aeva, a developer of lidar, sensing and perception systems, and Sick AG have agreed a multi-year collaboration to integrate Aeva’s FMCW (frequency modulated continuous wave) 4D lidar into a variety of industrial sensing applications including long range sensing, starting with Aeries II.

Dr. Niels Syassen, a Sick board member responsible for technology and digitization, commented, “We are convinced that Aeva’s approach to FMCW technology, which includes instant velocity detection and long range performance, will provide new opportunities in a variety of industrial sensing applications where traditional time of flight lidar technologies are challenged.”

‘Perception advantages’

Aeva says its FMCW 4D LiDAR technology “provides unique perception advantages over other sensing technologies like cameras and legacy 3D lidar sensors.”

The collaboration statement adds, “This includes better 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.”

Aeva’s technology is said to be “immune to blooming and ghosting from retroreflectors”, so automated machines using its 4D lidar will have clear perception when highly reflective objects are in the field of view of the sensor.

The technology detects low and highly reflective objects such as safety vests, pylons and adhesive tapes in the sensor's field of view. FMCW helps increase reliability and efficiency in demanding 3D applications.

“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,” commented Soroush Salehian, Co-founder and CEO at Aeva. “It is a testament to the performance and versatility of our 4D lidar technology for scaled deployment in industrial applications.”

In the 2021 fiscal year, Sick had more than 11,000 employees worldwide and a group revenue of around €2 billion. Aeva’s mission is to bring the next wave of perception to a broad range of applications from automated driving to industrial robotics, consumer electronics, consumer health, and security.