PreAct Technologies Launches Industry's First Software-Defined Flash LiDAR

On February 24, PreAct Technologies, a near-field flash lidar technology developer in Oregon, USA, announced the launch of its industry's first software-defined sensor, the T30P flash lidar, and has applied for a patent. The radar can be easily integrated into the automaker's complete autonomous driving system stack, as well as truck transportation and robotics applications. Vehicles with software-defined architectures require sensor technology that can support wireless updates throughout the life cycle of the vehicle, allowing OEMs to achieve continued profitability by providing powerful new features and functions.

(Image source: PreAct Technologies)

“We are excited to bring our software-definable flash LiDAR to market to further advance autonomous mobility across multiple industries,” said Paul Drysch, CEO of PreAct Technologies. “We have spent the past three years building a solution that meets the needs of software-defined vehicles, providing long-term maximum value to Tier 1 suppliers and OEMs by making all ADAS applications relevant throughout the vehicle lifecycle.”

As many OEMs integrate high-performance computing into vehicles and plan for the future, PreAct is committed to working with automakers to develop future vehicles by providing more sophisticated ADAS and safety applications throughout the vehicle lifecycle. PreAct's flash LiDAR architecture is based on a modulated waveform and can be optimized for different applications through over-the-air updates, including application stacks at the edge. Due to the high flexibility of software-defined LiDAR, Tier 1 suppliers and OEMs can package a sensor for multiple use cases, from actual roadside detection and gesture recognition to automatic parking and automatic door actuation, which can be updated to meet the changing needs of users and sensor data.

“Near-field automotive sensors have always been a trade-off between accuracy and cost. By bringing a highly accurate, low-cost sensor to market, PreAct enables a wide range of safety and convenience features,” said Ian Riches, Vice President of the Global Automotive Practice at Strategy Analytics. “With the software-defined nature of the T30P, vehicle functionality is improved throughout the lifecycle, creating new revenue streams for automakers.”

With a frame rate of 200 fps and QVGA resolution, the T30P is the fastest flash lidar on the market and is ideal for ground and aerial robotics or industrial applications where systems require fast, accurate and high-resolution sensors to reliably define and track objects in all environmental conditions.