Newsight and LeiShen partner to deliver V-LiDAR to automotive sector

16 Nov 2017

Based on LeiShen Intelligent’s 3D LiDAR and Newsight Imaging’s CMOS image sensor; to be available in the first half of 2018.

Newsight Imaging, a developer of CMOS image sensors for laser LiDAR and spectral analysis, has announced a partnership with LeiShen Intelligent, a provider of high-performance laser LiDAR systems, to jointly deliver V-LiDAR, a 3D pulse-based LiDAR designed for automotive applications used in ADAS systems and in autonomous vehicles.

Newsight’s patent-pending eTOF (Enhanced Time-of-Flight) system, which will be implemented in this venture, bridges the gap between short-distance iTOF and the 200m distance automotive requirement by extending the technology’s dynamic range.

The design of the V-LiDAR is the result of close collaboration between LeiShen and Tier-1 and Automotive OEMs. It is solid-state, high resolution (VGA and above), with a range and accuracy that meet the automotive industry's definition, and provided with the appropriate ISO certifications.

The companies have a track record of successful collaboration in the robotics market; LeiShen built a rotating head LiDAR based on the Newsight NSI3000 line sensor. The V-LiDAR will be offered at very competitive low cost for high volume orders.

'Revolutionary product'

Bernie Hu, CEO of LeiShen, commented, “LeiShen Intelligent is committed to delivering advanced LiDAR systems. The V-LiDAR performs well on distance, speed and reliability measures. It will be a revolutionary product with excellent performance and low costs. The program will constitute a good example of cooperation between Chinese and Israeli companies.”

Eli Assoolin, CEO of Newsight Imaging, added, “The Newsight-LeiShen partnership creates a strong brand positioning in the automotive market. Our established capability of creating advanced and sensitive integrated CMOS Sensors, together with LeiShen’s knowledge and experience in LiDAR design, will make this product highly attractive for a growing number of automotive makers, offering best in class implementation of their requirements, such as range, real solid-state, accuracy, power and price.”

The companies have established a collaboration program for first adopters, OEM or first-tier collaborators, who will gain access to R&D in order to define, review, and contribute to the product definition, influencing the LiDAR’s internals, such as CMOS image sensor, optics, board, software algorithms, and interfaces. Participants will also receive extensive research and development support for their final design. The program will also be offered to companies developing advanced state-of-the-art support solutions, such as algorithms and image processing.

About LeiShen Intelligent

LeiShen Intelligent produces LiDAR products for robot navigation and anti-collision, laser imaging sensors, obstacle-avoidance LiDAR for self-driving vehicles, altitude-hold LiDAR for laser scanners, displacement sensors, specialized robots, special fiber lasers, 1064nm high-power consecutive-pulse fiber laser, fiber devices, etc. and applicable solutions.

To date, the LeiShen team has been awarded 37 domestic and overseas patents, 16 software copyrights, and has filed for another 60 patents, 34 of which are for inventions. The company’s LiDAR products, based on the triangulation principle, are already in mass production, and are also matched with relevant SLAM algorithms, leading the way in robotics.

Two-dimensional TOF LiDAR is scheduled for trial production, which has widespread application in autonomous vehicles, ADAS, AGV, security systems, robots etc. LeiShen has also successfully developed 16 channel LiDAR. LeiShen claims to be the first manufacturer to develop an ASIC chip for TOF LiDAR, to cut the cost of LiDAR and enhance its performance. Development of LeiShen’s solid state LiDAR is currently underway, with the product scheduled for release in June 2018.