Ouster Launches Color LiDAR Sensors: Cars and Robots Will Have 'Human-like' Vision

The LiDAR sensors represent "the eyes" of autonomous driving systems in cars and can be applied in various other contexts where creating an accurate 3D map of an environment is necessary.

The new family of Rev8 sensors from Ouster marks a turning point for the LiDAR sensor industry as it manages to expand the range of collected data and, consequently, provides additional information beyond simple positioning, also adding color information.

The company already has agreements with Google, Volvo Autonomous Solutions, Skydio, PlusAI, and Seegrid, and many other customers are ready to use the new Rev8 sensors.

By leveraging these sensors, cars, robots, and any other machinery that uses LiDAR sensors to "see" in an outdoor environment will gain access to additional information, achieving a human-like view, as highlighted by the company.

A Revolution for LiDAR Sensors?

The new Rev8 range from Ouster offers a different approach to the use of LiDAR sensors. With the new L4 chip and the integration of Fujifilm's color processing technologies, these sensors can detect up to 20 trillion photons per second, operating at a very high precision.

Aside from the technical specifications, the Rev8 sensors have the ability to detect, in addition to positioning data, also chromatic information and, therefore, identify the color of a point as well as its spatial location in relation to the position of the sensor itself.

Applying this technology to the automotive sector, for example, the sensor can understand if the car ahead has braked (by checking the activation of brake lights) or can detect the signals of a traffic sign, such as a traffic light.

The flagship sensor of the Rev8 range, called OS1 Max, can guarantee a detection range of up to 200 meters with a reflectivity of 10%, while in optimal conditions it can extend up to 500 meters. The field of view extends 45 degrees vertically and 360 degrees horizontally. Additionally, due to its features, the sensor can "capture" chromatic details in both very bright and very dark areas (even simultaneously).

Angus Pacala, CEO of Ouster, commented: "With Ouster's L4 chip, we fulfill the promise of our digital architecture to deliver exponential performance improvements, doubling our core specifications while introducing the world's first native color LiDAR to provide machines with human-like 3D vision for the next era of physical artificial intelligence."