Fully automated and driverless test vehicles from Mercedes-Benz
equipped with Velodyne’s industry-leading 3D real-time LiDAR
SAN JOSE, Calif.-Wednesday, September 13th 2017 [ AETOS Wire ]
(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Velodyne LiDAR Inc., the world leader in 3D real-
time perception systems for autonomous vehicles, today
announced its selection by Mercedes-Benz Research &
Development as a critical sensor supplier for the VLP-32C Ultra
Puck™ for further development of fully automated and driverless
vehicles.
“We’re pleased to have our LiDAR technology included in
Mercedes-Benz’s sensor setup for their fully automated and driverless
vehicles. It reinforces Velodyne’s leadership in the space and further
ensures that tomorrow’s autonomous vehicles are as safe and
efficient as possible,” said David Hall, Chief Executive Officer,
Velodyne LiDAR. “Mercedes-Benz is synonymous with outstanding
performance as well as engineering quality, and we welcome the
opportunity to contribute to such an exciting program.”
In order to bring autonomous driving within reach, Mercedes-Benz
has developed an intelligently integrated setup of different sensors
that will now include Velodyne LiDAR sensors. The so-called ‘sensor
fusion’ enables a continuous situational analysis of the combined
data from the various sensors. The goal is to guarantee reliable results
to allow a robust planning of safe trajectories for automated
vehicles.
“With sensors as the eyes and ears of autonomous vehicles, they are
definitely drivers of innovation in that field. Self-driving cars need to
understand their surroundings in 3D, including low intensity objects at
long range,” explains Axel Gern, Vice President of Autonomous
Driving at Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America.
“We recognize Velodyne as a market leader for LiDAR sensors,
helping us getting fully autonomous vehicles on the road.”
Velodyne invented and patented the world’s first 3D real-time LiDAR
sensors in 2005, creating both the core foundational sensor
technology enabling the autonomous market, as well as achieving
the market share leadership position in truly autonomous vehicle
programs. The company’s surround view sensors provide up to 360-
degree coverage at long range and have been installed in
thousands of vehicles. Sensors today are manufactured at its
Megafactory in San Jose, California.
About Velodyne LiDAR
Founded in 1983 and based in Silicon Valley, Velodyne LiDAR, Inc. is
a technology company known worldwide for its real-time LiDAR
sensors. The company evolved after founder/inventor David Hall
developed the HDL-64 Solid-State Hybrid LiDAR sensor in 2005. Since
then, Velodyne LiDAR has emerged as the leading developer,
manufacturer, and supplier of 3D real-time perception systems used
in a variety of commercial applications including autonomous
vehicles, vehicle safety systems, 3D mobile mapping, 3D aerial
mapping, and security. Its compact, lightweight HDL-32E sensor is
available for many applications including UAVs, while the VLP-16
LiDAR Puck is a 16-channel real-time LiDAR sensor that is both
substantially smaller and dramatically less expensive than previous
generation sensors. Finally, the VLP-32C Ultra Puck™ offers the long-
range, high-resolution and surround view required for the world’s
most advanced autonomous vehicles. For more information, visit
http://www.velodynelidar.com.
Contacts
Velodyne LiDAR Media Contact
Andrew Hussey, 408-966-5078
Communications Director
ahussey@velodyne.com
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