Voyant Raises $15M for Lidar Technology

The Future of Lidar: Reducing Size and Cost

The long-term viability of lidar technology hinges on significant reductions in both its price and physical dimensions, a goal that Voyant Photonics is actively pursuing. Currently, lidars are often substantial in size and carry a high cost, hindering their widespread adoption. Voyant has secured funding to facilitate the production of a more compact, affordable, and easily manufactured lidar system without sacrificing performance.

From Sandwich to Fingernail: A Shift in Lidar Design

Initial plans, as outlined in 2019, focused on miniaturizing lidar technology using silicon photonics, aiming to reduce its size from a sandwich-like form factor to something akin to a fingernail. However, a primary obstacle for nearly all lidar companies remains cost reduction. The combination of a powerful laser, a sensitive receptor, and a beam-steering mechanism makes creating a low-cost unit – comparable to LEDs or touchscreens – challenging, especially for vehicles priced under $30,000.

A New Approach to Lidar Development

CEO Peter Stern joined Voyant as the COVID-19 pandemic began, tasked with transforming a promising prototype developed by Chris Phare and Steven Miller into a viable, marketable product. A return to fundamental principles led them to a photonics-based frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) system, designed for compatibility with existing commercial fabrication facilities.

“Our vision is a mass-producible chip, similar to other common electronic components,” Stern explained, emphasizing the cost savings achieved by avoiding a high-powered, precision laser. “Conventional laser sources are expensive, require assembly and calibration, and present lens-related challenges. Our laser sources are essentially repurposed, slightly refurbished datacom lasers, about the size of sesame seeds, costing around $5 each, with a total laser path cost of approximately $30.”

The Advantages of FMCW and Miniaturization

This reduced scale is enabled by the use of the FMCW method, commonly employed in radar systems. This technique utilizes a continuous beam of light with encoded data patterns and constantly adjusted frequency, circumventing many of the limitations associated with traditional lidar methods. Voyant’s implementation of this technology promises a cost-effective solution, potentially falling below $100 per unit at scale.

All the necessary optics, beam handling, and sensing components are integrated directly onto the chip.

Close-up of some of the waveguides found on the lidar chip. Image Credits: Voyant Photonics

Targeting Niche Applications

Voyant is not directly competing with established automotive lidar companies like Velodyne, Luminar, or Baraja. “We lack the resources to navigate the lengthy and expensive automotive development cycle,” Stern stated. Instead, the company is focusing on applications in robotics, mobility, and industrial safety, where its lower cost provides a competitive advantage.

While smaller lidar units are available for smartphones, their capabilities are limited, proving unreliable beyond a few meters or in challenging weather conditions. Voyant’s devices, though not intended for cars, meet automotive-grade specifications, offering millimeter accuracy at distances up to 100 meters.

Doppler Velocity and Material Recognition

The FMCW technique yields fewer data points, resulting in lower resolution, but provides instantaneous Doppler velocity measurements. This allows for the determination of an object’s speed without requiring additional scanning or computational resources.

Furthermore, Voyant’s system can discern not only distance and velocity but also, to a degree, material composition. By analyzing the polarization of the beam, the system can differentiate between surfaces like metal, asphalt, wood, skin, clothing, and fur, aiding in object categorization.

Block diagram of the Lark lidar test kit. Image Credits: Voyant Photonics

Funding and Future Plans

Voyant Photonics secured a $15.4 million Series A funding round led by UP.Partners, with participation from LDV Capital and Contour Ventures. These funds will be used to advance production by providing development kits to potential partners.

The company offers two development kits: the “Lark,” which utilizes a galvo mirror, and the “Sparrow,” employing a 2D beam steering technique to minimize mechanical components.

Stern anticipates producing approximately 200 units for partners in 2022, with commercial orders commencing in 2023. Voyant aims to capture a significant share of the industrial market, offering a compelling alternative to larger, more expensive lidar systems.