Velodyne Lidar debuted its latest sensor, the Velarray H800, a solid-state device architected for automotive grade performance, built using Velodyne’s proprietary micro-LiDAR array architecture (MLA). With combined long-range perception and a broad field of view, this sensor is designed for safe navigation and collision avoidance in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous mobility applications.
Its compact, embeddable form factor is designed to fit behind the windshield of a truck, bus or car, or be mounted on the vehicle exterior. The Velarray H800 will be available at high-volume production levels for adoption in consumer and commercial vehicle markets.
The Velarray H800 can help automakers design ADAS solutions that help reduce traffic accidents as well as injuries and deaths of drivers, passengers, bicyclists and pedestrians, according to the company.
“We want to help build the public’s trust in automated vehicle systems,” Marta Hall, Velodyne founder and CMO, commented. “We believe the Velarray H800 is the first of many LiDAR sensors that will be used in systems for powerful vehicle safety.”
The Velarray H800 has a large range, field of view and resolution to support advances in autonomy and ADAS, from Level 2 to Level 5. This spans the entirety of ADAS features from Lane Keep Assist and Automated Emergency Braking, all the way to the top levels of automated driving. The compact sensor can be paired with Velodyne’s Vella software suite, enabling the full spectrum of safety features.
With a field of view of 120 horizontal degrees by 16 vertical degrees, the sensor detects peripheral, near-field, and overhead objects while addressing corner cases on sloping and curving roads. It provides perception data at a range of up to 200 meters, supporting safe stopping distances even at highway speeds. Featuring a configurable frame rate, it offers the rich point cloud density required for high resolution mapping and object classification tasks.
The Velarray H800 is Velodyne’s first new sensor to be launched since the company went public on September 30, 2020.
“The Velarray H800 was specifically designed for high-volume automotive applications with feedback from leading OEM customers,” said Anand Gopalan, Velodyne Lidar CEO. “Our proprietary technology, combined with our manufacturing capacity, allow us to offer the sensor at a price that makes economic sense for automakers.”
