DVN-Lidar Conference 2022: A key event for the Lidar Community

The event took place in Wiesbaden-Germany (30/11 to 01/12). With 150 participants, 20 exhibitors, 30 speakers, the 2022 DVN-Lidar conference is a unique event for the Lidar community which can meet together for 2 days. See below some pictures and visitors’ feedbacks.

- All in one place: “this event is unique, we can meet here all the key players working on Lidar, which is not the case for other events such as the AUTOSENS conference” - a “complementary event for component suppliers compared to other events such as PHOTONICS, focused on component technology”.

- Networking: “A live conference (no on-line participation) is the right format to get attendees coming and generate multiple contacts within 2 days”

- Coverage: “we can get a broad view of the applications, regulations, technologies and components” - “we get a very good picture of the market dynamic”

Executive summary

-??????Market: Lidar is still in the emerging phase in EU, JP, KR with a focus on AV L3+ applications – the good news is regulation is getting ready step by step. The Chinese market is more dynamic based on L2 applications for premium electrical cars (China already represents 50% of the wins in 2022, as reported by Yole), Lidar might see standard applications sooner on this market

?-??????Added Value: The new generation of Lidars can now solve one of the critical use cases for AD, by detecting small objects on the road at a range above 200m. We also see high resolution & doppler Lidars contributing more efficiently to Pedestrian detection, with a possible recognition of legs & arms. This is very good news - we can see the potential benefits of Lidar for safety.

?-??????Technology: the Lidar technology is still in a creative phase, with more alternatives proposed than ever. The bad news is standardization is not in view, and some restructuring events will come. The good news is we can see small packaging coming (5x5cm aperture) and low-cost solutions possible with a compromise on performance – it won’t be the perfect Long-Range Lidar.

-??????How to achieve volumes? We might learn from the history of automotive radars. It started with long-range radars for ACC, quite expensive with limited volumes, multiple players, and a poor business case. Then the Blind Spot Detection rear radar was launched – cheaper and with a “safety benefit you can see” (icon in the rear-view mirror) and clear customer demand. This was the starting point of the radar market growth.

See also DVN white paper “Tesla ‘Autopilot’, its implication for the growth of the Automotive Lidar Market”. It helps understand the customer demand & expectations regarding safety performance for advanced ADAS systems - available to all DVN members

Conference Opening – Keynote by Mark Vrecko, Valeo VP in charge of the ADAS business

-??????Mark Vrecko from Valeo: “we see “Platformization” as the main driver to reduce costs (SW development & Product validation being a big part of the costs), and a solid manufacturing know-how necessary to secure the SOP with a sophisticated product.

?Lidar & Applications – Speakers and quotes?????

Lidar deployment

-??????Christian Kobetz from Mercedes: “we need to increase the availability of “Drive Pilot” – countries and speed range - to bring more value to the customer and to increase demand and volumes”.

-??????Cristina Galassi from The European Commission (DJ/JRC), “the regulation for AVs L3-5 published in August 2022, is a major step forward to facilitate a quick deployment in all EU countries”.

Benefits of the Lidar technology

-??????Vincent Abadie from Stellantis: “Lidar is the best 3D free-space sensor ever”, key for safety applications

-??????Patrick Piastowski from Ford: “small object detection is one of the key benefits of the Lidar technology, but it has to become affordable for family cars”

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Integration of Lidar

-??????Achim Freiding from HKM: “5x5cm is a good target for lidar integration in lamps”

-??????Henri Haefner from Cepton: “it is possible to integrate Lidar behind windshield”

?Markets & Lidar standards

-??????Clement Nouvel from Valeo and Zu ping Zhu from Mind electronics: “EU is focused on L3 and China is focused on L2+” - local brands - competing with TESLA - sell Lidar as a differentiator for safety “

-??????Pierrick Boulay from Yole: “the Chinese market is speeding up, this represents 50% of the wins in 2022”

-??????Adrian Zlocki from FKA: “first DIN-SAE spec for Lidar early 2023, then an ISO standard end of 2023”

?Lidar Performance

-??????Wolfgang Schulz from Continental using the Aeye lidar technology (1550nm & MEMs): “performance results for small object detection such as bricks, tires, palette show a detection range above 200m”

-??????Microvision: “we need to be prepared to avoid Lidar interference risks and mitigation”

-??????Thomas Reiter from ZKW: “we can detect motorcycle and pedestrians, with a Lidar fused with a camera”

Lidar Technology -

see interview of Red Creamary & details about Scantinel in Lidar news

-??????Baraja, “our prism-scan design is an alternative to MEMs, very robust and potentially affordable”

-??????Dmitriy from Red Creamary “we have a ultra-high-resolution Lidar”

-??????Andy Zott from Scantinel “the Photonic integration Solid State FMCW Lidar sensor is on the way”

-??????Alex Leuta from OPSYS: “our micro-flash scanning lidar has a small packaging and very low-cost design”

Second Keynote by Bircan Taslica, TüV Rheinland, Global Head of V2X, ADAS/AD & 5G

-??????Bircan Taslica from TüV Rheinland providing details about V2X, ADAS regulations and testing: “TüV have all facilities to support all testing requirements for ADAS and Automated Vehicles”

Components & Eco-system – Speakers & quotes

-??????Clemens Hoffmann from ams OSRAM, about lidar emitters, market trends and design challenges. “FMCW will come slowly”

-??????Manual Lieggs from Fraunhofer, “regarding the SPAD technology, we can reduce by 90% the data rate, which is one roadblock for future applications “

-??????John Peeks about KSLD laser, “our multifunction laser (white light+IR) can support V2X with LiFi communication capabilities, and many other applications, even a flash lidar”

-??????Doctor Optics “we are introducing new high precision lens for Lidar applications”

-??????Toro Tolonen from Canatu “we have a new nano-tubes solution for transparent heating features”

-??????Niklas Anderrmahr from Dioptic “we are providing robust solutions for optical design and optical testing for lidar sensors (in lab and on process line)”

-??????Fabien Bastide from Ansys “we have many customers for our Lidar simulation toolchain”

Exhibitors

-??????Lidar sensors?????????: Valeo, Aeye, Baraja, Microvision, Red Creamery, Scantinel, OPSYS, SOS Lab

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-??????Lidar components??: KSLD, Frauenhofer, Canatu, Dioptic, Schott AG

-??????Perception SW??????: ZKW, LiangDao, Xtreme1

-??????Eco System ???????????: Mobias/Robosense (Dev tools), IMS (Manufacturing), TüV (Testing), Marelli (Integration)