The successful initiation of the MaPALDA Project, a venture that aims to define the future of automotive lidar, has been announced by Ommatidia Lidar. The US$8m project is supported by a consortium of key international partners – Dongwon Industries, Idneo, Hangyang University, ALC Net, ViewNyx and Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) – and is focused on developing autonomous vehicles and in-cabin safety and comfort.
Laser integration research is set to be combined with Ommatidia Lidar’s highly scalable parallel sensor architecture, a strategic partnership that positions the project to achieve enhanced 3D sensing performance, specifically in long-range and in-cabin applications. The international collaboration brings together pioneers in photonics technology, experts in smart high-volume manufacturing and end users from Spain and South Korea and represents a great opportunity to blend expert innovation and scalability.
Ommatidia Lidar CEO and co-founder Dr Eduardo Margallo Balbás, said, “Autonomous vehicles are now a reality and not just an idea on paper. We are addressing specific challenges such as scalability and limited resolution in long-range imaging. It is vital to ensure enhanced data accuracy, reliability and safety, especially in challenging weather conditions.
“With our partners, we see incredible lidar potential for in-cabin functionality. Lidar can provide high resolution, vital sign monitoring and broad viewing angles. We are dedicated to providing the best technology for passenger safety and elevated comfort inside autonomous vehicles.”
Project goals will focus on advancing frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) technology.
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