New sensor improves robotics

This innovative product, utilising Lumotive's Light Control Metasurface (LCM) optical beamforming technology, marks a significant step in 3D sensing for industrial automation and service robotics.

Lumotive's LCM technology uses dynamic metasurfaces to control and direct light in unprecedented ways, eliminating the need for the bulky, expensive, and fragile mechanical parts found in traditional lidar systems. As a true solid-state beam steering component for lidar, LCM chips offer exceptional stability and accuracy in 3D object recognition and distance measurement, and effectively manage multi-path interference, which is critical for consistent performance and safety in industrial environments.

Hokuyo’s new sensor is the first of its kind in the lidar industry, providing superior range and field of view (FOV) compared to other solid-state solutions by integrating beam steering with Lumotive’s LM10 chip. Additionally, the digital, software-defined scanning capabilities of LCM beam steering allow users to adjust performance parameters such as the sensor’s resolution, detection range, and frame rate. Multiple FOVs can be programmed and used simultaneously, adapting seamlessly to changing conditions, both indoors and outdoors.

"The YLM-10LX sensor marks a breakthrough in 3D lidar technology, unlocking new possibilities for automation and robotics," said Ms. Chiai Tabata, Product and Marketing Lead at Hokuyo. "With the industrial sectors increasingly demanding high-performance, reliable lidar systems that also have the flexibility to address multiple applications, our continued partnership with Lumotive allows us to harness the incredible potential of LCM beam steering and to deliver innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers."

"We are thrilled to see our LM10 chip at the heart of Hokuyo's new YLM-10LX sensor, the first of our customers’ products to begin deploying our revolutionary beam steering technology into the market," said Dr. Axel Fuchs, Vice President of Business Development at Lumotive. "This product launch highlights the immense potential of our programmable optics in industrial robotics and beyond. Together with Hokuyo, we look forward to continuing to redefine what's possible in 3D sensing."

Lumotive’s LM10 LCM, a chip-scale solid-state beam steering solution for lidar, enables sensor makers like Hokuyo to quickly integrate compact, adaptive programmable optics into their products. Manufactured using established and scalable silicon fabrication techniques, LM10 reduces costs through economies of scale, making solid-state lidar accessible and economically viable for widespread adoption across various industries.

The commercial release of the YLM-10LX sensor marks another significant milestone in Hokuyo's strategic collaboration with Lumotive. The two companies will continue to combine Hokuyo's industry expertise with Lumotive's pioneering optical semiconductors to push the boundaries of 3D lidar technology and drive innovation across a wide range of applications.