ams and Ibeo Automotive Systems GmbH confirmed that ams Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) technology is a core component of Ibeo’s solid-state LiDAR solution, ibeoNEXT. Ibeo´s LiDAR system will be used in Level-3 automated driving on production vehicles at Great Wall Motor Company starting in 2022.

The ams VCSEL array has power density, conversion efficiency, and pitch. ams R&D provides enhancements around integrated functional-safety standard and eye-safety features, leading to robust technology. The VCSEL manufacturing technology allows for flexibility in layout design regarding number of pixels, their size and pitch, and specific addressability patterns. In addition, ams has the required capabilities to co-develop emitter, current driver, and optics. The company´s high-power VCSELs can differentiate in scan and flash applications as they are less sensitive to individual emitter failures, are more stable in temperature ranges, and are ideal to integrate.

Ibeo´s flagship ibeoNEXT will be used in Great Wall vehicles to enable a highway pilot to drive semi-autonomously at Level 3. The ibeoNEXT solid-state LiDAR offers large detection range, high resolution, and large vertical angle.

LiDAR systems emit laser pulses and then evaluate the light reflected from various objects. From the time-of-flight, or the time it takes for the reflected laser pulse to reach the sensor again, the software calculates the distance to the surrounding objects. Modern LiDAR systems can process many laser pulses in parallel: The result is a 3D model of the environment that recognizes crash barriers and road markings as well as cars, cyclists, and pedestrians, their position and movement.

In combination with a long-range and a high spatial resolution, this accuracy is an advantage of LiDAR technology. Unlike other LiDARs, the solid-state solution means no moving beam-steering mechanism, such as mechanical or MEMS mirrors.

For more information, visit: https://ams.com/lidar