PALO
ALTO, Calif., April 14,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hesai Technology (NASDAQ:HSAI)
today officially releases the latest automotive-grade, ultra-thin
long-range lidar ET25. ET stands for "Extremely Thin". Named after
its height, ET25 is only 25 mm tall and extremely light.
As an in-cabin lidar specially designed to be placed behind the
windshield, ET25 provides automakers with more possibilities for
automotive applications.
Lidar provides high-precision 3D perception for smart cars. It
effectively compliments cameras, providing higher safety
redundancy. Lidar is a key perception hardware enabling L2+ and L3
ADAS applications.
Automakers require lidar placement to consider both function and
aesthetics. ET25 is designed to be placed behind the windshield,
which enables a sleeker design without affecting aerodynamics or
acceleration performance.
Dust and rain can block the lidar's FOV, but the unique in-cabin
design allows for quick cleaning via windshield wipers. This
ensures that the visibility of lidar is maintained in different
scenarios.
ET25 comes with state-of-the-art features to achieve its unique
in-cabin design.
ET25 is about half the height of AT128, yet offers even higher
performance. With 120° (H) x 25° (V) FOV, its detection range can
reach 250 meters without the windshield, and 225 meters behind the
windshield[1]. Its point frequency exceeds 3 million
points per second. With a minimum resolution of only 0.05° x 0.05°,
ET25 brings ultra-high resolution and long-range 3D perception to
smart cars.
ET25's ultra-thin form factor and improved performance comes
from Hesai's proprietary technology. The upgraded laser receivers
increase ET25's sensitivity by several folds. As a result, the
ranging capability of the 905 nm lidar has also increased to over
250 meters (for objects with 10% reflectivity), helping smart cars
to assess risks promptly and make safer decisions in complex road
conditions.
Why is it critical for in-cabin lidar to be thin?
All sensors integrated in-cabin require some space between the
sensor and windshield. The space is called the optical Keep Out
Zone (KOZ). The thicker the sensor, the more KOZ it needs. For
example, the ET25 with a thickness of 25 mm has less than half the
KOZ compared to other long-range lidars with a thickness of 45 mm.
Since the sensor bracket is placed above the driver, a smaller KOZ
takes less in-cabin space and reduces the impact on the driver's
vision.
Therefore, only a lidar as thin as the ET25 can ensure safety
when installed behind the windshield, bringing wider field of view
and more in-cabin space.
- Low Power for Better Thermal Performance
The in-cabin air does not circulate well while driving,
especially in high-temperature weather. After exposure to sunlight,
the rearview mirror tends to become very hot, creating a major
challenge for the in-cabin lidar. If the power of the lidar is too
high, it can not be placed in the cabin due to serious overheating
problems.
ET25 has excellent thermal performance with only 12 W of power
consumption. Even in the hot summer, it can work continuously while
maintaining high-performance operation.
In addition, selecting sensors with lower power consumption will
save a car's battery life.
- Low Noise for A More Comfortable Ride
Noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) are essential indicators
of car quality. High-end and luxurious models need a
higher NVH rating performance.
Therefore, in-cabin installations of lidar have higher NVH
requirements. The noise level of ET25 is less than 25 dB, which is
even lower than the noise level in a quiet library. It fully meets
the NVH requirements for luxury electric vehicle
brands[2] and provides an "immersive" driving
experience.
- Windshield Glass Plays A Key Role
Another key factor is the particular windshield used for the
ET25 integration.
Normally, when near-infrared laser light emitted by the lidar
encounters traditional car glass, it causes signal attenuation,
which lowers the maximum range and resolution. Therefore,
integrating the lidar with other devices behind a normal
windshield, such as cameras and rain sensors, poses a great
challenge.
On the ET25 release date, Hesai officially announced a joint
strategic cooperation with Fuyao Group to promote the release of
ET25 ADAS solution.
Founded in 1987, Fuyao Group is China's largest automotive glass supplier with
leading R&D and production capability. Fuyao's customized front
windshield optimized infrared light transmittance, solving the
signal attenuation problem caused by ordinary glass.
Using Fuyao's near-infrared anti-reflection glass in lidar's KOZ
ensures the performance of the lidar behind the windshield, and
leaves the point cloud effect "uncompromised".
Furthermore, Fuyao's industry-leading windshield integration
design capability and accumulated experience enabled the perfect
integration between ET25 and the existing ADAS systems. Together,
Hesai and Fuyao will jointly promote the mass production of
in-cabin lidar and bring innovative solutions to global users.
- Hesai Continues to Lead the Global Lidar Market
ET25 is extremely thin while maintaining its high performance.
It is another breakthrough for Hesai, following the fully
solid-state lidar FT120 designed for ADAS series production
vehicles.
In 2022, Hesai's annual revenue and delivery volume exceeded the
combined sum of the eight lidar companies listed on the US stock
market[4]. Hesai's AT128 has already won over several
million units of expected volume from 11 leading OEMs and tech
companies including Li Auto, Jidu, HiPhi, Lotus, Changan, and
SAIC. Beginning mass production and delivery in July 2022, AT128 has empowered Li L9, L8 Max, L7
Max, Hiphi Z, Lotus Eletre, and various other car models.
Hesai will continue to empower smart cars with high-performance
and reliable lidar products, bringing a safer and more intelligent
driving experience.
About Hesai
Hesai Technology (NASDAQ:HSAI) is the global leader in
three-dimensional light detection and ranging (LiDAR) solutions.
The company's lidar products enable a broad spectrum of
applications across passenger and commercial vehicles with advanced
driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous vehicle fleets
(autonomous mobility). Hesai's technology also empowers robotics
applications such as last-mile delivery robots and logistics robots
in restricted areas. As of December 31,
2022, Hesai has shipped over 100,000 lidar units. Hesai's
commercially validated solutions are backed by superior research
and development capabilities across optics, mechanics, electronics,
and software. Hesai integrates lidar designs with an in-house
manufacturing process, facilitating rapid product development while
ensuring high performance, consistent quality, and affordability.
Hesai has established strong relationships with leading automotive
OEMs, autonomous vehicle, and robotics companies worldwide,
covering over 90 cities in 40 countries.
[1] When using a
customized windshield with a transmittance of more than 85% and
taking the value in the middle area of the FOV. The
parameters of the mass-produced version may change, making it
customizable as needed.
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[2] The noise value in
the cabin of a luxury brand passenger electric vehicle is generally
40 - 50 dB(A).
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[3] The point clouds
are from sample product and does not represent the SOP version's
point cloud quality.
|
[4] Data collected from
public financial reports: eight U.S. publicly listed peers are
Velodyne,
Ouster, Luminar, Cepton, Innoviz, Aeva, Quanergy, Aeye.
On Nov.8th 2022, Quanergy confirmed delisting.
On Feb.10th 2023, Ouster and Velodyne completed
merger.
|
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SOURCE Hesai Technology