This month, lidar players Velodyne and Ouster have released new products, which the companies boast are cheaper and higher-performing than existing systems.
Ouster has introduced OS1-32, which the firm says is ‘the world’s most affordable 32-channel lidar sensor.’ The system – which employs the company's multi-beam flash lidar technology – doubles the resolution of its 16-channel predecessor, the OS1-16.
The new release is designed to accelerate the development and deployment of perception systems by providing an attainable price point for researchers, roboticists, and commercial applications.
The OS1-32 is priced at $8,000 for commercial applications (with volume pricing available) and $6,000 for non-profit university research.
‘Less expensive high-resolution lidar is critical for moving computer vision from simple obstacle avoidance to advanced perception and situational awareness. Higher resolution helps machines to better understand the physical world, and move projects from R&D to commercial availability,’ said Ouster CEO and co-founder Angus Pacala.
With a range of 120 metres, the OS1-32 maintains what the company says is the smallest form factor and lowest weight (425g) of any commercially available high-resolution lidar sensor on the market.
In addition to the release of the OS1-32, Ouster has introduced a new modular top cap, enabling tight physical and aesthetic integration into customer platforms for the OS1-series sensors.
Velodyne Lidar has introduced Alpha Prime, a lidar sensor that delivers ‘the combined highest performance specifications for the autonomous mobility industry in one sensor,’ the company said in a press release.