Lidar technology provider Hesai Technology is launching its powerful new lidar solution OT128 at Europe’s biggest commercial vehicle trade fair IAA Transportation in Hannover.
Hesai’s OT128 is the most mature 360° long-range lidar in the market and is driving the rapid development of autonomous vehicles’ all-around sensing capabilities.
Production time per unit reduced by 95%
Hesai’s OT128 can achieve a detection range of up to 200 metres at 10% reflectivity, meeting the demanding requirements of level 4 (L4) autonomous driving and other high-precision applications.
With a finest angular resolution of 0.1° x 0.125° and data points exceeding 3.45 million points per second, the OT128 captures environmental details with levels of clarity that far exceed the automotive industry’s requirements, the company said.
With 66% fewer parts than the previous-generation product, Hesai’s OT128 has a significantly less complex architecture. This means the unit can be mass-produced on an automated manufacturing line, reducing the production time per unit by more than 95% compared to the previous generation of mechanical lidar.
OT128 can detect objects both near and far. Hesai said the OT128 has ‘outstanding’ surface detection, even for objects that cameras struggle to identify, such as black cars.
As such, the OT128 has the potential to drive a new wave of innovation in the commercial automotive sector as it continues to strive for scalable commercial deployment of self-driving trucks, autonomous shuttles, last-mile delivery vehicles, and industrial automation. Many of these mobility solutions will be on display at the 2024 IAA Transportation fair in Hannover, from September 16-22. Hesai is making its first appearance at the biennial event as the company expands its global footprint.
Safety standards
Hesai’s Pandar128, QT128, and AT128 have all achieved ASIL B certification for functional safety. Additionally, The OT128 also meets ISO 26262 ASIL B functional safety standards and complies with ISO 21434 cybersecurity requirements.
OT128 was designed to meet automotive-grade standards and has passed more than 50 automotive-grade reliability tests. It has a design life exceeding 30,000 hours – three times the industry average – to maintain performance even after prolonged operation in high temperatures. Similarly, OT128 demonstrates stability in complex mechanical shock and vibration environments, suitable for extreme conditions like high-speed driving on rough terrain and prolonged exposure to intense vibrations.
With the rapid growth of ADAS and the autonomous driving market, Hesai’s first product featuring an integrated architecture, the AT128, has achieved significant volume expansion, the company stated. As of the second quarter of 2024, cumulative deliveries of AT128 surpassed 380,000 units. The OT128 has been developed on the same platform as AT128, re-using 95% of the mature and transceiver modules in the 360° lidar.
Hesai’s OT128 has already been tested by pre-launch customer partners in Europe across various applications, including L4 autonomous driving, port logistics automation, industrial robotics, heavy machinery and smart factories.
EasyMile, headquartered in Toulouse, France, integrates the OT128 into its autonomous shuttles, providing on-road awareness for the vehicles.
“Hesai has a track record of designing industry-leading performance lidars. The OT128 has ultra-high resolution, long-range perception, with a level of support that doesn’t compromise functionality. These were fundamental features we needed for our autonomous vehicles,” said Benoit Perrin, general manager at Easymile.
Embotech, a Zurich-based provider of autonomous driving solutions, uses the OT128 on its harbour terminal trucks to meet customers’ requirements for reliability and performance.
Giorgio Corbellini, head of commercial vehicle automation at Embotech, said: “Reliability and performance were critical during the proof-of-concept phase, while ROI becomes a key focus in the deployment phase. Hesai’s lidar products enable us to meet our customers’ requirements in both stages, advancing our vision of revolutionizing autonomous mobility.”
According to the Lidar for Automotive 2024 report by Yole Intelligence, an international market research and strategy consulting firm, Hesai is ranked No. 1 in the robotic car lidar market globally, with a 74% market share. Among the top 10 autonomous driving companies in the world, nine use Hesai’s 360° lidar.
Jim Cornall is editor of Deeptech Digest and publisher at Ayr Coastal Media. He is an award-winning writer, editor, photographer, broadcaster, designer and author. Contact Jim here.
