Solid State Lidar: Challenges and Future Potential

The Lidar technology is currently sailing in rough waters. Traditional Lidar sensors with rotating mirrors still cost a high three-digit euro amount. Automated driving from Level 3 onwards is dependent on Lidar sensors, but after the hype has entered the phase of disillusionment. Therefore, the number of units sold is lagging behind the forecasts and the field of Lidar sensor suppliers—see Bosch’s withdrawal, as well as ZF at Ibeo is consolidating. In addition, there is the 4D imaging radar technology as a more cost-effective and technically potentially dangerous competitor in object detection. A way out of the difficult market environment could be solid-state lidar technology. Because they are fully integrated in electronic modules, these sensors do not require moving parts. This makes them less complex, smaller, more cost-effective and more robust than previous lidar sensors. The noise production and heat emissions are also said to be significantly lower.

From an article by Hartmut Hammer in All About Industries.

Clear vision in focus

However: “Currently there are no really functioning solid-state lidar sensors on the market, because they are simply not mature enough,” claimed Geoffrey Bouquot, former Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President Strategy of the Valeo Group, at the IAA 2023 in a conversation with the sister magazine ‘Automotive Industry’ (German language).

Among others, the Israeli start-up Opsys Tech wants to change this situation. The company has teamed up with several partners to accelerate the industrialization of solid-state technology. Since 2023, they have been working with the Wideye product line of Japanese glass specialist AGC on integrating the Lidar sensors in a module behind the windshield and aim to achieve series production readiness by 2024. They see the position in the area of the interior mirror as ideal for capturing the vehicle’s forward field and expect synergy effects from integrating multiple sensor technologies into a compact cluster. For example, they have already combined two separate Lidar modules – specifically high and low resolution sensors for long and short range detection – with multiple cameras, a rain sensor, and an RFID antenna in a space-saving manner.

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