Velodyne Lidar’s Alpha Puck™, Ultra Puck™, and Puck™ surround view sensors (left to right)

Velodyne Lidar, Inc. filed a patent infringement complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) against Hesai Photonics Technology Co., Ltd. and Suteng Innovation Technology Co., Ltd. (a.k.a. RoboSense) for violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 which makes unfair methods of competition and importation of certain products into the United States unlawful.  Earlier this week, Velodyne also filed patent infringement complaints against Hesai and RoboSense in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

Point Cloud generated by the Velodyne Alpha Puck™, which can simultaneously locate the position of people and objects around a vehicle and assess the speed and route at which they are moving.

Velodyne is asking the ITC to investigate these lidar manufacturers for unlawfully importing and selling lidar sensors that infringe Velodyne’s patented lidar technology (U.S. Patent 7,969,558). Velodyne requests the ITC issue permanent limited exclusion orders and cease and desist orders against Hesai and RoboSense to stop the importation and sale of rotating 3D lidar devices and products in the United States that infringe Velodyne’s patented lidar technology.

“Velodyne Lidar Inc. is the inventor of surround view lidar,” said David Hall, Founder & CEO, Velodyne Lidar, Inc. “We are an invention-based company and vigorously defend our intellectual property to enable us to keep investing in and innovating our technology.”

The Velodyne Alpha Puck™ is a lidar sensor specifically made for autonomous driving and advanced vehicle safety at highway speeds.