Powered by Velodyne Sensors, ThorDrive
Autonomous Vehicles Will Provide Cargo and Baggage Services at
Airports Worldwide
Velodyne Lidar, Inc. (Nasdaq: VLDR, VLDRW) today announced a
five-year sales agreement to provide Ultra Puck™ sensors to
ThorDrive, an autonomous technology company. ThorDrive is using
Velodyne’s lidar sensors to power its cargo and baggage ground
support tractors in a groundbreaking autonomous vehicle (AV)
program at the Cincinnati / Northern Kentucky International Airport
(CVG).
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By utilizing ThorDrive’s vehicles,
equipped with Velodyne Lidar’s Ultra Puck™ sensors, airlines are
able to autonomously transport baggage and cargo to and from planes
and throughout facilities at any time, day or night. (Photo:
ThorDrive)
ThorDrive AVs, equipped with multiple Velodyne Ultra Puck
sensors, were developed live in complex, safety-critical
environments at CVG’s gates. Their proof of concept aims to advance
airport safety and cargo efficiencies, with units to be sold by the
end of 2021. In 2019, CVG, the 7th largest cargo airport in North
America, handled over 1.2 million tons of cargo and baggage for
more than 9.1 million passengers. By utilizing ThorDrive’s
solution, airlines are able to autonomously transport baggage and
cargo to and from planes and throughout facilities at any time, day
or night. Safe, effective materials transit is critical to airlines
for the protection and handling of goods while maintaining tight
flight schedules.
ThorDrive chose Ultra Puck for its cargo transit vans because
the sensor’s patented 3D surround view technology provides
real-time object detection needed for safe, efficient navigation
and dependable operation. Equipped with Velodyne’s lidar solutions,
ThorDrive AVs use existing infrastructure and can operate in harsh
weather conditions including rain, snow and ice, day and night.
ThorDrive has been using Velodyne lidar sensors in developing its
autonomous driving technology since 2010. ThorDrive is planning to
expand its AV solutions further into the aviation ground support
equipment market as well as to industrial and manufacturing
applications.
“Our innovation partnerships focus on long-term viability and
scale,” said Brian Cobb, Chief Innovation Officer for the
Cincinnati / Northern Kentucky International Airport. “This
agreement is a hallmark event towards ThorDrive’s capacity to scale
up with Velodyne’s advanced sensor technology.”
“Velodyne is our trusted, long term partner to deliver high
quality, reliable sensors at an affordable price point,” said
Edward Shelton, VP of Business Development, ThorDrive. “Our
software is tuned to their sensors’ state-of-the-art capabilities,
advancing our efforts in providing transformative solutions for
airline logistics and future applications of our autonomous
technology. In working with Velodyne as the industry leader, we
will be able to realize the future of moving cargo, equipment and
materials.”
“We are thrilled to work with ThorDrive as they deliver
trailblazing AV cargo transit programs to airports in North America
and around the world, advancing safety and efficiency,” said Laura
Wrisley, VP of North American Sales, Velodyne Lidar. “They have
been on the forefront of innovation for delivery and logistics and
we are proud to work with them along the way. ThorDrive AVs show
that Velodyne’s lidar sensors provide the range and field of view
needed to gain visibility in complex environments to detect and
avoid obstacles for safe logistics transport.”
About Velodyne Lidar
Velodyne Lidar (Nasdaq: VLDR, VLDRW) ushered in a new era of
autonomous technology with the invention of real-time surround view
lidar sensors. Velodyne is the first public pure-play lidar company
and is known worldwide for its broad portfolio of breakthrough
lidar technologies. Velodyne’s revolutionary sensor and software
solutions provide flexibility, quality and performance to meet the
needs of a wide range of industries, including autonomous vehicles,
advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), robotics, unmanned
aerial vehicles (UAV), smart cities and security. Through
continuous innovation, Velodyne strives to transform lives and
communities by advancing safer mobility for all. For more
information, visit www.velodynelidar.com.
About ThorDrive
ThorDrive is a full-stack developer of autonomous driving
technology for the aviation, industrial and tier 1 automotive
markets. With operations in South Korea and headquarters in
Cincinnati, Ohio, ThorDrive has developed autonomous solutions for
the safe and efficient movement of materials, cargo, baggage and
people since 2016. Through industry, manufacturing and customer
partnerships, ThorDrive’s main focus is to proliferate their
autonomous solutions in industries and with customers that are
driven to develop and implement technologies that enhance safety
while maintaining a competitive edge. For more information, visit
www.thordrive.ai.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward looking statements" within
the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including, without
limitation, all statements other than historical fact and include,
without limitation, statements regarding Velodyne’s target markets,
new products, development efforts, competition. When used in this
press release, the words "estimates," "projected," "expects,"
"anticipates," "forecasts," "plans," "intends," "believes,"
"seeks," "may," "will," “can,” "should," "future," "propose" and
variations of these words or similar expressions (or the negative
versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify
forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are
not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results and
involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties,
assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside
Velodyne's control, that could cause actual results or outcomes to
differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking
statements. Important factors, among others, that may affect actual
results or outcomes include Velodyne's ability to manage growth;
Velodyne's ability to execute its business plan; uncertainties
related to the ability of Velodyne's customers to commercialize
their products and the ultimate market acceptance of these
products; the uncertain impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on
Velodyne's and its customers' businesses; uncertainties related to
Velodyne's estimates of the size of the markets for its products;
uncertainties regarding government regulation and adoption of lidar
for pedestrian safety, traffic congestion and smart city
applications; the rate and degree of market acceptance of
Velodyne's products; the success of other competing lidar and
sensor-related products and services that exist or may become
available; Velodyne's ability to identify and integrate
acquisitions; uncertainties related to Velodyne's current
litigation and potential litigation involving Velodyne or the
validity or enforceability of Velodyne's intellectual property; and
general economic and market conditions impacting demand for
Velodyne's products and services. Velodyne undertakes no obligation
to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as
required by law.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210210005224/en/
Velodyne Lidar Investor Relations Andrew Hamer Chief
Financial Officer InvestorRelations@velodyne.com
Media Landis Communications Inc. Sean Dowdall (415)
286-7121 velodyne@landispr.com
ThorDrive Edward Shelton VP – Business Development
shelton.edward@thordrive.ai
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