As electric vehicles add new features, such as advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), automakers need to keep an eye on power consumption and heat dissipation of sensors. Doing so can help vehicles extend the range that can be achieved from their batteries before recharging.
Peter Donaldson, writing in E-Mobility Engineering, explored this issue with a focus on lidar sensors. The article notes:
“Xilinx has supplied its MPSoC device family to Velodyne Lidar for its Vella advanced driver assistance system. In addition to the programmable logic, the MPSoC has a processing subsystem with quad-core ARM Cortex processors including an A53 and dual R5s, plus an as yet unused MALI GPU.”
The story includes comments from Velodyne’s COO Jim Barnhart, who discussed how “Velodyne’s lidars run relatively cool, it allows vehicle systems designers more freedom to place the sensors in positions that enable the best use to be made of their performance without having to worry about heat dissipation needs and therefore cooling.”
Jim added that as lidar sensors and their algorithms mature, the extra efficiency of ASICs become more attractive and their fixed logic less of a problem. The article quotes Jim saying:
“We are investing in ASIC-based capabilities for the future, as we shrink the form factor on some of the products, especially on the solid-state laser side.”
Velodyne Lidar (Nasdaq: VLDR, VLDRW) ushered in a new era of autonomous technology with the invention of real-time surround view lidar sensors. Velodyne, a global leader in lidar, is known 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 robotics, industrial, intelligent infrastructure, autonomous vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Through continuous innovation, Velodyne strives to transform lives and communities by advancing safer mobility for all.
