SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Imagine a world in which roadway safety is no longer a dream of the future, but an everyday lived reality. That world starts now. That day starts today. Velodyne LiDAR, the world leader in LiDAR sensors, has answered the challenge of making this world a reality. As a technology, autonomous driving is still in its infancy. In order for the public to become more familiar -- and by extension, increasingly comfortable with this technology -- it needs to be easily understandable. That’s where Velodyne comes in.
To galvanize Velodyne’s educational efforts, the company has released “LiDAR 101,” a video showcasing how LiDAR sensors contribute to autonomous technology. The same information presented in this video was recently discussed with Capitol Hill leaders and their staff members. To watch the video please see: Velodyne’s LiDAR 101.
As Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Founder of Velodyne, serial inventor David Hall introduced a suite of LiDAR sensors, 3-dimensional vision systems that can “see” the world in 360 degrees. Through the distinctive ability of its LiDAR technology, Velodyne makes unique and unequivocal contributions to autonomous driving technology. Even more importantly, Hall’s efforts in inventing and patenting this suite of sensors will lead to a reduction of traffic crashes and fatalities.
Every day, humans make tragic decisions that cost people their lives on the roadways. Every year, on a global scale, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA), 1.3 million people lose their lives to car crashes. In every accident, their loved ones lose their family members, their friends. And for what? Distracted, drowsy, drunk, and drugged driving. According to NHTSA, 94 percent of car crashes occur due to human error. 2016 may have been the deadliest year the roadways have ever seen.
All of those statistics will eventually change. Fewer lives will be lost on roadways. Fewer families will lose their loved ones. Autonomous technology – drawing from the “seeing” power of LiDAR technology – offers a solution of hope to end this global crisis. With its visionary technology, Velodyne is making their vision of the future – a safe future – a likely reality.
About The Velodyne Advocacy Team
Spearheaded by Velodyne President Marta Hall, the Velodyne Advocacy Team was established to convey their vision of safety to the world through circulation of clear, accurate and factual information about autonomous technology, especially as it is found in Velodyne sensors.
The Advocacy Team’s latest efforts have culminated in a series of meetings in Washington, D.C. with members of Capitol Hill, as well as other regulatory groups including the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, the National Highway Transportation Safety Board and the Department of Transportation.
The pinnacle of the team’s efforts took place in December 2017, coordinating 17 meetings over three days to provide valuable information and knowledge for policy makers, regulators, agencies and the general public, including senators and members of congress. Throughout the meetings, the team provided clear explanations of LiDAR technology and direct illustration of LiDAR sensors as critical elements of autonomous technology. The team’s efforts were grounded in the information from the LiDAR 101 video, a key educational tool. They also established themselves as experts of the technology, as they were called upon to answer questions about the technology.
On Jan. 24, 2018, the energy from these discussions was roused again, when the team convened in Washington for the Senate Commerce Committee Field Hearing, which revolved around AV START. This group holds responsibility for establishing the legislation for AV START, which will govern the self-driving policies of the future. The Advocacy Team shares the committee’s goal of cultivating comfort and confidence in consumers and the public through educational efforts and demonstrations of safety in urban environments.
The dynamic of the meetings undertaken by the Advocacy Team was positive, collaborative, productive and centered on a shared commitment to roadway safety. As Mircea Gradu, chief quality officer of Velodyne, further notes, “Autonomous driving will help eliminate the multiple risk factors related to human errors.” This perspective underscores Velodyne’s commitment to this mission.
On Jan. 1, 2017, Velodyne partnered with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), a vocal advocate for autonomous technology on the roadways. Velodyne and MADD have forged an alliance with the shared mission of bringing awareness of autonomous technology to policy makers and the public, as self-driving technology will lead to reduction of drunk driving on the roads.
Marta Hall expressed her enthusiasm and excitement for the efforts of the Advocacy Team, stating, “Velodyne LiDAR’s mission is to increase safety on America’s roadways. We consider it not just an honor, but a responsibility to realize our vision of hope for the future, by advocating and educating about LiDAR technology and its potential to radically improve vehicle safety. Our technology is the highest quality LiDAR for autonomous vehicles and with Velodyne sensors, vehicles can ‘see’ 360 degrees of the surrounding environment. As the leading innovator and manufacturer of LiDAR technology, we are committed to providing clear and compelling educational resources for better public understanding.”
Velodyne’s vision of hope for the future can be a reality. Through shared efforts with policy makers and partner organizations, Velodyne will lead the public to “see” the potential in this technology in the same way the sensors “see” the world clearly. By enhancing public awareness and confidence in autonomous technology, Velodyne will be able to fulfill the mission of getting everyone home safely.
About Velodyne LiDAR
Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Silicon Valley, Velodyne is a technology company known worldwide for its real-time 3D LiDAR computing and software platforms. The company evolved after founder David Hall invented the HDL-64 Solid-State Hybrid LiDAR sensor in 2005. Since then, Velodyne LiDAR Inc. emerged as the unmatched market leader of real-time 3D vision systems used in a variety of commercial applications including autonomous vehicles, vehicle safety systems, mobile mapping, aerial mapping, and security. Its products range from the high-performance, surround view Ultra-Puck™ VLP-32, classic HDL-32/64 and cost-effective VLP-16, the new VLS-128, to the upcoming, hidden Velarray™. Velodyne’s rich suite of perception software and algorithms are the key enablers of its perception systems. Velodyne supports customers from offices in San Jose, Detroit, Frankfurt, and Beijing. For more information, visit http://www.velodynelidar.com.
