Press release
David Hall, Velodyne’s CEO and founder, named 2018 Inventor of the Year
Oct 08, 2018 | By VELODYNE LIDAR

Autonomous vehicle pioneer to be honored at December 11 Foundation Awards Dinner in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation has awarded David Hall, chief executive officer and founder of Velodyne LiDAR, Inc., as its 2018 Inventor of the Year. Hall created the groundbreaking 3D LiDAR sensor technology which enables advanced vehicle safety and performance for autonomous vehicles.

“My grandfather was a physicist and my father an engineer, so creating things is in my DNA.” – David Hall

The idea of leveraging LiDAR technology for autonomous driving came to Hall after competing as one of the original entrants in the DARPA Grand Challenge for autonomous vehicles. In 2005, he invented 3D LiDAR to give autonomous vehicles real-time, 360-degree vision that then set the stage for revolutionizing the automobile industry. LiDAR sensors provide the high-resolution, real-time information about the surrounding environment that is required for fully-autonomous driving. Velodyne LiDAR is the industry leader supplying virtually every automaker and autonomous vehicle company with its sensors. LiDAR sensors are also used for mapping, industrial and other uses.

“It is an honor to be recognized by the Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation and I appreciate their efforts. Intellectual property protection is imperative to fostering innovation and is a valuable asset to new technology,” Hall said.

Holding more than 30 U.S. patents, Hall is a technology visionary covering a variety of applications. He founded Velodyne Acoustics in 1983 as an audio company specializing in low-frequency sound and subwoofer technology. In 2011, he launched Velodyne Marine and debuted its first self-stabilizing craft, the Martini, at the 2013 Miami boat show. This prototype was the world’s first sea-faring vessel with an active suspension.

“My grandfather was a physicist and my father an engineer, so creating things is in my DNA,” he said. “My goal is for LiDAR to enable the promise of safe autonomous mobility.”

Hall will be honored at the annual IPO Education Foundation Awards Dinner, celebrating leaders and innovators in intellectual property on Tuesday, December 11, 2018 in Washington, D.C.

MEDIA PLEASE NOTE: To learn more about IPO and the Inventor of the Year Award, please contact Nyree Berry at IPO (202-507-4514; [email protected]). To schedule an interview with David Hall or to request images, please contact David Cumpston at Landis Communications Inc. (415-359-2316; [email protected]).

About IPO and IPO Education Foundation

Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO), established in 1972, is a 501(c)6 trade association for owners of patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets. IPO serves all intellectual property owners in all industries and all fields of technology. IPO advocates for effective and affordable IP ownership rights and provides a wide array of services to members, including: supporting member interests relating to legislative and international issues; analyzing current IP issues; information and educational services and disseminating information to the public on the importance of intellectual property rights.

IPO has a related 501(c)3 foundation, the IPO Education Foundation. The IPO Education Foundation is devoted to educational and charitable activities designed to promote the value of intellectual property rights. IPO and the IPO Education Foundation share the same office location and IPO staff also support the Foundation.

Contacts

Landis Communications Inc.
David Cumpston, 415-359-2316
[email protected]
www.landispr.com

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, 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.

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