Velodyne and Hyundai Mobis to develop lidar-based ADAS system

In collaboration with Hyundai Mobis, US-based Velodyne LiDAR is set to launch a new lidar-based advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) for autonomous vehicles.

The new ADAS solution combines Velodyne’s lidar technology with Hyundai Mobis’ cognitive software.

In a statement, Hyundai Mobis announced plans to invest $50m in Velodyne to produce a level-three autonomous driving lidar system.

Hyundai Mobis Strategy Planning head Ko Youngsuk said: “Hyundai Mobis is delighted to cooperate with Velodyne LiDAR, one of the industry’s most innovative lidar sensor providers, to launch a lidar system that is essential in high-level autonomous driving.

“The Velarray, utilising Velodyne’s industry-leading sensing technology, meets the demanding requirements for ADAS applications in an embeddable compact form factor that is ready for consumer vehicles.”

Velarray offers Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) level-two to level-three ADAS functionality in discrete packaging.

Aimed to ensure road safety, the new lidar system uses an array of lasers to measure distances in its surrounding environment at light speed.

The technology offers pedestrian and bicycle detection and avoidance, lane-keeping, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot detection and advanced autonomous navigation functionality.

It will also offer sensing technologies for driver assistance and advanced vehicle safety using camera and radar technologies from Hyundai Mobis.

The companies expect to commercialise their first lidar system for level-three autonomous driving in 2021.

Once ready, the companies will initially supply the ADAS system to the Asian market and will expand to automakers in North America and Europe.

In July, Velodyne acquired mapping and localisation software and other intellectual property assets from Mapper.ai.

In July last year, Hyundai Mobis developed a customised steering system for autonomous vehicles.