As original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) expand the breadth of mobile robot applications, an international partnership could expedite the deployment of sensor technology in robotics and autonomous system applications.
Washington-based Lumotive, with its Light Control Metasurface (LCM) technology in beam-steering chips for 3D optical sensors, and Hokuyo Automatic, a Japanese producer of sensor and automation technology, have entered into a multi-year production contract.
“Securing a design win of this stature is a notable accomplishment, and we are eager to move forward with Hokuyo Automatic in incorporating our LCM technology into our first industrial automation application," said Dr. Sam Heidari, CEO of Lumotive. "Hokuyo Automatic's expertise in industrial automation and sensor technology makes them an ideal partner to accelerate the adoption of our ground-breaking LCM semiconductor technology. This production supply agreement marks an important milestone for Lumotive, as we bring advanced 3D sensing solutions to the robotics and autonomous systems markets."
Utilizing Lumotive's solid-state beam-steering chip, Hokuyo plans to produce a 3D light-detection-and-ranging (LiDAR) sensor based on Lumotive’s M30 reference design targeted for industrial applications. This product is designed to surpass mechanical LiDAR and time-of-flight camera technology, fostering progress in automated guided vehicles (AGVs), autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and other industrial applications. In addition, as part of this partnership, Hokuyo is using Lumotive's manufacturing partners and engineering expertise to bring its sensing products to market faster.
Hokuyo Automatic is an Asian manufacturer of industrial automation sensors, including LiDAR sensors, which are used for robotics, material handling and other industrial automation applications.
“We are impressed with Lumotive’s LCM optical semiconductor technology and believe that it will be a game-changer for the industrial automation market,” said Hokuyo President Hitoshi Ozaki. “Lumotive’s product delivers a new level of miniaturization, performance and reliability, which will enable us to expand our business with innovative 3D sensing solutions that could not be realized with conventional LiDAR scanning technology. We look forward to working with Lumotive to bring these solutions to market.”
Lumotive’s patented technology, based on semiconductor manufacturing technology, delivers solid-state metasurface beam-steering chips ready for mass production. Lumotive’s LCM chips are designed to enable miniaturization, lower costs and higher reliability in applications across industries including consumer electronics, industrial automation and autonomous vehicles.
Lumotive-enabled solid-state 3D LiDAR sensors with their large field of view and extended range in a compact form allow for seamless integration into diverse machinery, from robotics to conveyor systems. Its outdoor performance is designed to ensure reliable operations, even in expansive outdoor industrial sites or warehouses with challenging lighting conditions. The software-defined scan modes can enable customization to specific tasks, such as object tracking on production lines or navigation for AMRs. The system's ability to minimize interference and multipath effects are designed for better point cloud quality.
