Great Wall Motor uses Ibeo solid-state Lidar and AMS VCSEL technology to help enable future autonomous vehicles

     Ams Semiconductor, the world's leading provider of high-performance sensor solutions, Ibeo Automotive Systems GmbH, an expert and global technology leader in automotive LiDAR sensor technology and related software, has launched the ibeoNEXT Solid-state LiDAR The LiDAR solution uses AMS 'vertical cavity surface emitting Laser (VCSEL) technology as a core component. Ibeo's industry-leading LiDAR system will be used in Great Wall Motor's future autonomous vehicles.

     With two decades of experience in the automotive sector, including ISO 26262, and a deep presence in 3D consumer electronics, AMS is an industry leader in VCSEL technology. Ams VCSEL arrays offer superior power density, conversion efficiency and spacing. The solution is highly reliable by integrating functional safety standards to provide enhanced functionality and eye protection. Ams' specially optimized VCSEL technology allows for great flexibility in layout design, including pixel size, dimensions and spacing, as well as specific addressable features. In addition, AMS has the capabilities needed to jointly develop emitters, current drivers and optics. The company's high-power VCsels stand out in scanning and floodline lidar applications because they are less susceptible to individual transmitter failure, more stable over the operating temperature range, and easier to integrate.

     Ibeo's flagship version, ibeoNEXT, will be used in Great Wall's future production vehicles - providing highway navigation and Level 3 autonomous driving. ibeoNEXT further strengthens the company's technical leadership in the LiDAR sensor space. The ibeoNEXT solid-state LiDAR provides excellent detection range, high resolution and large vertical angles. Ibeo's solid-state Lidar sensor combines its expertise in software and technology and is a major milestone on the road to fully autonomous driving.

     LiDAR systems emit laser pulses and then receive light reflected from individual objects. The software calculates the distance to the target object by using the so-called time-of-flight (ToF) principle, which is the time it takes for the reflected laser pulse to reach the sensor. Modern LiDAR systems can process many laser pulses in parallel: the result is a 3D environment model that identifies crash barriers and road signs, vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians, and their location and movement. This precision, combined with long distance and high spatial resolution, is a key advantage of LiDAR technology. Unlike other LiDAR, this solid-state solution has no moving parts that control beam scanning, such as mechanical or MEMS mirrors. So it has great advantages in terms of reliability and complexity.