Lidwave Secures $10M Investment to Enhance Machine Vision with Cutting-Edge On-Chip 4D LiDAR Technology

Lidwave Secures $10 Million to Revolutionize Machine Vision with 4D-LiDAR Technology

Lidwave has successfully raised $10 million to enhance machine vision, particularly in detecting pedestrians in busy environments and improving factory robots' visibility.

The innovative technology, known as 4D-LiDAR, is designed to simplify complex LiDAR sensors by integrating them onto a chip, according to Yehuda Vidal, CEO of Lidwave, in an interview with GamesBeat. The funding round, led by Jumpspeed Ventures and Next Gear Ventures, features strategic investment from a prominent Swedish truck manufacturer, underscoring the importance of Lidwave’s advancements in machine vision.

“This investment represents a pivotal moment for Lidwave, bringing us closer to our mission of transforming machine vision,” Vidal stated. “Our 4D LiDAR chip not only sets a new benchmark for sensor performance but also makes advanced perception technology accessible to the mass market. We are excited to collaborate with forward-thinking investors who share our vision of enhancing safety and productivity across diverse industries.”

The Challenge

Lidwave aims to consolidate 4D LiDAR components onto a single chip.

Machine vision sensors, particularly LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), are essential in various sectors, including automotive, transportation, and industrial automation. LiDAR technology utilizes lasers to measure distances and create 3D spatial models. Despite its potential, LiDAR’s widespread adoption has been hindered by high costs, complexity, and reliability issues. Traditional LiDAR systems involve intricate assemblies of lasers, detectors, and optical components, often costing thousands—if not tens of thousands—of dollars, which limits their use across industries.

Lidwave's Solution

Lidwave is introducing a cost-effective, chip-based LiDAR system designed for mass-market accessibility.

Offering a new era of LiDAR technology, Lidwave's proprietary Finite Coherent Ranging (FCR) technology integrates all necessary components onto a single chip. This innovative approach not only simplifies production but also significantly reduces costs by treating light as a wave rather than relying solely on photon counting. By integrating lasers, amplifiers, receivers, and optical routing into one chip, Lidwave enhances reliability and accessibility for a multitude of industries.

Additionally, Lidwave's coherent sensing method delivers Doppler (velocity) data at the pixel level alongside depth information, empowering machines to analyze their surroundings more accurately and make informed decisions.

Origins

Founded in 2021 by Yehuda Vidal, Yossi Kabessa (CTO), and Uri Weiss (Chief Scientist) in Jerusalem, Lidwave currently operates with a small team of under 20 professionals. “Our expertise in coherent optics allows us to simplify LiDAR technology, which has historically been complex and costly,” Vidal explained.

Lidwave’s technology spans a range of applications, from self-driving cars to industrial automation and smart cities, helping machines assess the status of moving objects in various scenarios.

Investor Interest

Ben Wiener, founding partner at Jumpspeed Ventures, remarked, “We recognized the potential of LiDAR technology years ago, but Lidwave now offers a clear path to scalability and widespread adoption. Their revolutionary 4D chip addresses the limitations of legacy technologies and opens up new opportunities for industries.”

Lidwave’s seed funding round attracted additional investors, including Sapir Venture Partners, Teramips Technologies, Beyond-Electronics, and the Israel Innovation Authority. The company collaborates with key manufacturers and tier-1 suppliers to drive a new era of autonomy in the mass market.

Vidal concluded, “Our goal is to deliver a fully integrated system on a chip for the mass market. With significant recent advancements in the semiconductor industry, integrating active optical components into silicon wafers is now achievable, marking a game-changing development.”

While targeting automotive manufacturers, Lidwave anticipates that industrial automation and autonomous robots will be the first markets adopted for its innovative technology.