ZF Adds Second Lidar Partner

Germany’s ZF Friedrichshafen, which began contract production of lidar for its Ibeo Automotive affiliate last month, also has a manufacturing partnership with Silicon Valley startup Aeva.

(Image: Aeva)

Aeva and ZF plan to launch production for unspecified customers by 2024. In addition to assembling the devices, ZF will be responsible for ensuring the sensors meet all automotive requirements.

Frequency Modulated

Aeva uses a frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) technology rather than more common short-wave lidar.

By measuring the change in frequency of the waveform as it reflects off of an object, FMCW can detect an object's range and instant velocity simultaneously with a high degree of accuracy at about 1,000 ft, the startup company says.

The technology also requires less optical power and can be mass produced using standard silicon semiconductor equipment and processes, according to Aeva.

The system is designed for use by a range of passenger and commercial vehicles for Level 2+/Level 3 applications through fully autonomous systems.

Growing Competition

Montana-based Blackmore Sensors and Analytics also is developing FMCW lidar. That company was acquired by self-driving startup Aurora Innovation last year and has development agreements with BMW and Toyota.

Aeva, which was founded three years ago by former Apple and Nikon engineers, lists Porsche’s venture capital arm as one of its investors.

The Mountain View, Calif.-based startup says its FMCW technology has a unique projection system. The system-on-a-chip architecture incorporates multiple beams, each of which is capable of measuring millions of points per second at maximum range. Aeva claims this enables “unprecedented” data fidelity and significantly improved performance.

Ibeo Launch

The sensors ZF is producing for Ibeo will be used in SUV/crossover vehicles built by China’s Great Wall Motor.

                                                        Aeva FMCW lidar

Ibeo uses a photon-laser-measurement lidar system that simultaneously processes multiple lasers pulses.

The Ibeo and Aeva systems are solid-state technologies, which have fewer moving parts and promise to be significantly less expensive than the bulky spinning arrays used by initial prototype self-driving vehicles.