Velodyne introduced its smallest sensor, the Velabit

     At CES 2020, Velodyne Lida introduced Velodyne's smallest sensor, Velabit™, which brings a whole new level of versatility and affordability to 3D LiDAR perception. Velabit takes advantage of Velodyne's innovative liDAR technology and manufacturing partnerships for cost optimization and high volume production. The sensor advances Velodyne's mission to make high-quality 3D liDAR sensors readily available to everyone.

     Velabit is the perfect addition to Velodyne's sensor portfolio. The sensor has the same technology and performance as Velodyne's full suite of advanced sensors and will drive the creation of endless possibilities for new applications across a wide range of industries. The compact Velabit can be embedded in almost any location in vehicles, robots, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), infrastructure, and more. Its design makes it easy to mass produce.

     Velabit is designed to be the best automotive-grade liDAR solution for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous vehicles. It provides robust perceptual coverage for blind spot monitoring, cross flow detection, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian and cyclist safety. The mid-range sensor can be highly configured for customer applications and used in combination with other Velodyne LiDAR sensors such as Velarray™ for high-speed operation or as a standalone liDAR solution in low-speed applications.

     Velodyne Lidar CEO Anand Gopalan said: "Velabit has democratised Lidar with its ultra-small form factor, with a target price of $100 for mass production of its sensors, making 3D Lidar available for all safety-critical applications. The combination of performance, size and price allows Velabit to drive a huge breakthrough in the number of applications adopting LiDAR. This sensor delivers the breakthrough innovation the industry has been waiting for, an innovation that could usher in a new era of autonomous driving solutions around the world."

     Alberto Lacaze, president of Robotic Research, said: "Before Velabit, there was no suitable small lightweight lidar for small unmanned aerial vehicles and unmanned ground vehicles performing obstacle avoidance or map construction. Since Robotic Research's Pegasus Mini™ is a fully autonomous ground and air vehicle, the size and versatility of Velabit is needed. In addition, Velabit enables the industry's most advanced GPS-constrained map construction. Velabit fills a much-needed space in the market and, for now, is unique."