Koito & Quanergy Collaborating For Automotive Headlights+LiDAR Concept
The global automotive headlights giant Koito Manufacturing Company and the LiDAR sensor firm Quanergy Systems have announced collaboration on the development of an automotive headlight+LiDAR concept.
To explain that more fully, the two companies worked together to create an automotive headlight concept that features built-in Quanergy S3 solid state LiDAR sensors. This creation was on display at the now-ended CES 2017 trade show, in the Quanergy booth.
The CEO of Quanergy, Louay Eldada, commented: “We are excited to be working with Koito on this groundbreaking headlight. We believe that headlights with integrated LiDAR sensors will help accelerate the commercialization of cars with autonomous driving capability and will help reinvent the driving experience.”
The press release provides more:
“The Koito headlights, which will be located on the corners of a vehicle, each incorporates two compact Quanergy S3 solid state LiDARs that perform sensing forward and to the side, and provide real-time long-range 3D views of the environment around the vehicle and the ability to recognize and track objects. The sensors are seamlessly embedded inside the headlights and do not protrude or alter the exterior look of the headlights or the vehicle. Additionally, the headlight protects the sensors from dust, dirt and water, and headlight lens washers can be used to help ensure an unobstructed view for the sensors.
“The LiDARs embedded in the headlights have the function of primary sensors in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous vehicle (AV) systems. As primary sensors, the LiDARs are used for (a) perception, (b) mapping and localization, and (c) occupancy grid detection, path planning and navigation.”
An interesting idea. Obtrusiveness certainly isn’t the primary barrier to wider LiDAR use, though — high costs are. However, once costs fall enough, such products will no doubt find a large market waiting.
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