At just 250g, the Carbon FMCW lidar sensor is impressively lightweight. | Supply: Voyant Photonics
Voyant Photonics has unveiled its latest innovation: the Carbon FMCW lidar sensor, touted as an efficient and cost-effective solution that integrates lidar functionality onto a single chip while leveraging solid-state beam steering technology. The corporation has announced that it has created a low-cost lidar sensor aimed at accelerating advancements in machine perception.
This miniature carbon-silicon photonic chip, measuring just a few millimeters in size, enables unprecedented levels of precision, with capabilities including object detection and segmentation up to distances of 200 meters (656 feet). Voyant has integrated optics onto its photonic integrated circuits (PICs), enabling higher efficiencies while driving down costs.
Voyant claims to have pioneered lidar-on-a-chip technology for three-dimensional applications, boasting “aggressive efficiency” at a “disruptive value” in terms of measurement, weight, and energy consumption. The company is headquartered in New York City.
ToF sensors are notoriously expensive.
The instantaneous velocity capability enables “ego-positioning” for cars, offering a sustainable solution in GPS-denied areas and serving as a viable alternative to advanced inertial measurement units (IMUs).
FMCW lidar technology is gaining traction in the robotics industry. In September, SiLC Technologies Inc. announced a breakthrough in frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) lidar design, which could potentially revolutionize autonomous vehicle navigation and object detection. Honda Xcelerator Ventures has invested in the growth of its next-generation frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) lidar technology. According to experts, these advanced sensors have the potential to provide high-quality data, thereby significantly enhancing the training and testing of machine vision algorithms.
What are the key characteristics of the Carbon FMCW lidar sensor?
Carbon leverages a miniature, single-axis beam-steering lidar integrated onto a compact chip, paired with a slow-moving, high-precision shifting mirror for optimal performance across a wider axis. | Supply: Voyant Photonics
Voyant claims its carbon sensor surpasses the performance of top-tier time-of-flight (ToF) lidar technology, effectively functioning through adverse conditions such as muddy terrain, thick fog, heavy rainfall, and snowy environments. This technology is particularly resistant to daylight disruption, with a notable advantage during the periods of dawn and dusk when natural light can interfere with its effectiveness.
The corporation emphasized that its technology is impervious to highly reflective surfaces, including retroreflectors such as street signs, traffic cones, and safety vests. These ruggedised devices can withstand the intense optical interference posed by blooming or blinding legacy Time-of-Flight (ToF) lidar sensors.
Despite its lightweight 250g (8.8oz) design, the Carbon boasts impressive credentials, including IP67-rated protection against mud and water, as well as resilience to shock and vibration, according to Voyant. Moreover, the minimal energy demand made possible by FMCW laser expertise guarantees optimal eye safety.
The company’s announcement touted carbon’s exceptional ability to provide high-definition decision-making capabilities, achieving a remarkable 128 traces per body, equivalent to camera-level precision. With the added capability for immediate velocity measurement, Voyant enables highly accurate detection and tracking of moving targets up to 200 meters distant.
The field of view is 45° vertically and 90° horizontally. Its most detectable radial velocity is approximately 63 meters per second, which translates to about 140 miles per hour.
The sensor’s software-defined lidar enables users to dynamically adjust the body price and area of view in real-time, offering greater flexibility and customization during operation. By focusing on a specific area of interest, Voyant suggests that the technology will be able to pinpoint and classify even the smallest objects, thereby sparking a sense of wonder and curiosity.
Now available for purchase, the Carbon lidar can be ordered at an affordable price point of $1,490 for individual units, with quantity discounts and a comprehensive two-year warranty included. Voyant is set to showcase its latest innovations at the 2025 event, with a significant presence at Sales Space 3175 in the Car Tech and Advanced Mobility sector within the West Corridor of the Las Vegas Convention Center.
