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Consumer Electronics Daily News 1 3 Monday, January 8, 2018 AEye Introduces Groundbreaking iDAR Technology AEye Inc, a robotic perception pioneer, introduced iDAR™, a new form of intel- ligent data collection that enables rapid, dynamic perception and path planning. iDAR (Intelligent Detection and Ranging) combines the world's first agile MOEMS LiDAR, pre-fused with a low- light camera and embedded artificial intelligence – creating software-defin- able and extensible hardware that can dynamically adapt to real-time demands. iDAR will deliver higher accuracy, longer range, and more intelligent infor- mation to optimize path planning soft- ware, enabling radically improved autonomous vehicle safety and perform- ance at a reduced cost. AEye's iDAR is designed to intelli- gently prioritize and interrogate co-locat- ed pixels (2D) and voxels (3D) within a frame, enabling the system to target and identify objects within a scene 10-20x more effectively than LiDAR-only prod- ucts. Additionally, iDAR is capable of overlaying 2D images on 3D point clouds for the creation of True Color LiDAR. Its embedded AI capabilities enable iDAR to utilize thousands of existing and cus- tom computer vision algorithms, which add intelligence that can be leveraged by path planning software. The introduction of iDAR follows AEye's September demonstration of the first 360 degree, vehicle-mounted, solid-state LiDAR sys- tem with ranges up to 300 meters at high resolution. "AEye's unique architecture has allowed us to address many of the funda- mental limitations of first generation spinning or raster scanning LiDAR tech- nologies," said Luis Dussan, AEye Founder and Chief Executive Officer. "These first generation systems silo sen- sors and use rigid asymmetrical data col- lection that either oversample or under- sample information. This dynamic exposes an inherent tradeoff between density and latency in legacy sensors, which restricts or eliminates the ability to do intelligent sensing. For example, while traditional 64 line systems can hit an object once per frame (every 100ms or so), we can, with intelligent sensing, selectively revisit any chosen object twice within 30 microseconds – an improvement of 3000X. This embedded intelligence optimizes data collection, so we can transfer less data while delivering better quality, more relevant content." AEye is also announcing the iDAR Development Partner Program for OEM customers, Tier 1 partners, and universi- ties interested in integrating iDAR into their vehicles. The company is demoing iDAR and announcing its automotive product suite at CES. Agile LiDAR A shortcoming of traditional LiDAR is that most systems oversample less impor- tant information like the sky, road and trees, or undersample critical information such as a fast-approaching vehicle. They then have to spend significant processing power and time extracting critical objects like pedestrians, cyclists, cars and ani- mals. AEye's iDAR technology mimics how a human's visual cortex focuses on and evaluates potential driving hazards. It uses a distributed architecture and at- the-edge processing to dynamically track targets and objects of interest, while always critically assessing general sur- roundings. "Humans have an instinctive ability to respond to visual cues. By fusing intel- ligence within the data collection process, iDAR takes us a step closer to this instinc- tive response," said AEye Director of Software Jon Lareau. "AEye's iDAR is also an open and extensible platform, allowing us to integrate best-of-breed sensors to improve performance, increase redundancy, and reduce cost. Most impor- tantly, iDAR should help our customers streamline their development process and bring better autonomous vehicles to mar- ket, faster." AEye's iDAR system uses propri- etary low-cost, solid-state beam-steering 1550nm MOEMS-based LiDAR, com- puter vision and embedded artificial intelligence to enable dynamic control of every co-located pixel and voxel in each frame within rapidly changing scenes. This enables path-planning software to address regions and objects of interest, or to apply differentiated focus on select objects or obstacles. By adding intelli- gence to the sensor layer, objects of inter- est can be identified and tracked with minimal computational latency. For example, the system can identify objects and then revisit them even within the same frame giving the perception and path planning layers the ability to make calculations such as multi-directional velocity and acceleration vectors simul- taneously. This allows for faster and bet- ter predictability of behavior and intent. True Color LiDAR An additional limitation of traditional LiDAR is that it doesn't provide suffi- ciently detailed information on color or text, so it can't decipher color nuances in road striping, curbs, signage and traffic lights. iDAR's True color LiDAR instan- taneously overlays 2D real-world color on 3D data, adding computer vision intel- ligence to 3D point clouds. Traditional LiDAR-based systems have to post- process, with inherent delays and compu- tational drain due to registration and alignment challenges. True Color LiDAR's unique fusion enables absolute color and distance segmentation, and co- location with no registration processing, so almost no computational penalty. This enables much greater accuracy and speed in interpreting signage, emergency warn- ing lights, brake versus reverse lights and other scenarios that have historically been tricky for legacy LiDAR-based sys- tems to navigate. In addition, this approach dramatically expands the abili- ty to do "enhanced training" for autonomous vehicles. Software-Definable and Extensible Hardware A key feature of AEye's iDAR platform is its software-definable hardware. iDAR adds three feedback loops that do not exist today: one at the sensor layer, one at the perception layer and another with path planning software. By enabling cus- tomizable data collection in real-time, the system is able to adapt to the environ- ment and dynamically change perform- ance based on the customer's/host's applications and needs. In addition, it can emulate legacy systems, define regions of interest, focus on threat detection and/or be programmed for variable envi- ronments, such as highway or city driv- ing. This configurability leads to opti- mized data collection, reduced band- width, improved vision perception and intelligence and faster motion planning for autonomous vehicles. By designing its system from the ground up to accommodate multivariable customization through its software API, AEye optimizes functional control and puts OEMs and Tier 1s in the driver's seat. In addition, iDAR's system archi- tecture allows for remote updates of the firmware and software, which enables rapid prototyping without requiring hard- ware modifications. iDAR is just the latest milestone AEye has achieved in advancing next generation vision systems. In September, the company announced completion of a live metropolitan demonstration show- casing vehicle-mounted solid state com- mercial LiDAR with 360-degree cover- age. The demo broke new ground in enabling autonomous vehicles to collect real-time high density point clouds while simultaneously detecting objects up to 300 meters. Other recent company announcements include recent additions to executive team and investors. About AEye AEye develops advanced vision hard- ware, software and algorithms that act as the eyes and visual cortex of autonomous vehicles. Since its demonstration of its solid state LiDAR scanner in 2013, AEye has pioneered breakthroughs in intelli- gent sensing. The company is based in the San Francisco Bay Area, and backed by world-renowned investors including Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Airbus Ventures and Intel Capital. For more information, visit www.aeye.ai. IOGEAR Named as CES 2018 Innovation Awards Honoree IOGEAR, a manufacturer of innovative information technology products for con- sumers and small- to medium-sized busi- nesses, has been named a CES 2018 Innovation Awards Honoree for wireless A/V solutions: GW4KHDKIT60 Wireless Long Range HDMI 4K @ 60Hz Kit and GWMHDKIT22 Wireless Mid Range 2 x 2 HDMI Matrix Kit. Products entered in the prestigious program are judged by a preeminent panel of inde- pendent industrial designers, independent engineers and members of the trade media to honor outstanding design and engineering in cutting-edge consumer products across 28 product categories. The GW4KHDKIT60 and GWMHDKIT22 are true DIY products that use H.264 compression technology to transmit video through a dedicated 802.11ac wireless connection, which eliminates the need for a wireless net- work and ensures fast, easy Plug-n-Play setup between the transmitter and receiv- er. Both solutions "wrap up" IR signals so the user can control the source device from the remote receiver. The GW4KHDKIT60 is the first true wireless 4K solution available for consumers, allowing the transmission of HDMI 2.0- quality video (4K @ 60Hz) over dis- tances up to 656 feet. The GWMHD- KIT22 enables users to share one or two sets of source equipment (2 kits required), such as cable/satellite receivers and Blu-Ray players, between two displays over distances up to 150 feet in separate areas of the home. "We are thrilled that our new wireless A/V solutions have been recognized as CES 2018 Innovation Awards Honorees because it validates our efforts to bring to market innovative and thoughtful connec- tivity solutions that increase convenience, minimize costs and maximize productivi- ty," explained Joseph Zhang, Director of IOGEAR Product Management. "These new solutions deploy quickly and allow users to transmit HDMI signals between source and display devices over long dis- tances. These products can save users thousands of dollars and hours of installa- tion time when compared to typical wired installations." The prestigious CES Innovation Awards are sponsored by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)™, the owner and producer of CES 2018, the global gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technolo- gies, and have been recognizing achieve- ments in product design and engineering since 1976. Entries are evaluated on their engi- neering, aesthetic and design qualities, intended use/function and user value, unique/novel features present and how the design and innovation of the product directly compare to other products in the marketplace. Products chosen as CES Innovation Honorees reflect innovative design and engineering in some of the most cutting- edge tech products and services coming to market. The IOGEAR GW4KHDKIT60 and GWMHDKIT22 carry a limited one-year warranty and will be available in late Q4 at street prices of $519.00 and $153.00, respectively. For more information on IOGEAR's portfolio of award-winning connectivity products and solutions, visit www.iogear.com. About IOGEAR IOGEAR, an ATEN Technology Company headquartered in Irvine, California, manufactures innovative information technology products for con- sumers and small- to medium-sized busi- nesses that are designed to help integrate technologies in everyday life, share resources and decrease clutter at home, at work and on-the-go.