press kit: ces 2016 - velodynelidar.com -velodyne lidar press kit.pdf · for immediate release...

Press Kit: CES 2016

Table of Contents

| News Release: Velodyne Announces Order from Ford Motor Company For Its Next-Gen Solid-State LiDAR Sensor Designed for

ADAS Safety and Autonomous Driving

| Media Advisory: At CES, Velodyne LiDAR Asks the Industry to Come to Its

Sensors | Media Advisory: At CES, Keep an Eye Out for the White Lincoln MKZ,

As AutonomouStuff Previews Automated Research Development Vehicle, Equipped with Velodyne LiDAR

| News Release: As Baidu’s Self-Driving Car Hits the Road in Beijing,

Velodyne LiDAR Sensor Guides the Way | News Release: Velodyne LiDAR Pucks to Serve as ‘Eyes’ for NAVYA Driverless

ARMA Shuttles; Initial Two-Vehicle Test Could Pave Way for Autonomous Mass Transit in Switzerland

| News Release: At Capturing Reality Forum, LiDAR Pioneer Velodyne Displays

Mobile Feast, As Mapping via Real-Time 3D LiDAR Sensors Takes Off | News Release: Velodyne 3D LiDAR Sensors Sweep Top Five Spots in China’s

Intelligent Vehicle Future Challenge

| News Release: Velodyne Keynotes D.C. Geospatial Mapping Conference,

Outlines Future of LiDAR in Transportation Sector

| News Release: Velodyne’s Popular VLP-16 3D LiDAR Puck Guides ESIGELEC

Team to Win in First ARGOS Challenge Oil & Gas Robotics Competition

| News Release: For Second Year in a Row, Velodyne 3D LiDAR Sensor Enables

Embry-Riddle Entry to Take First Place in RoboBoat Competition

| News Release: At Prestigious NAS Workshop, LiDAR Pioneer Velodyne

Sketches Future of Low-Altitude, Low-Cost Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

| News Release: At UAS/UAV Mapping Forum, LiDAR Pioneer Velodyne

Previews UAV Remote Sensing Using Multi-Beam 3D LiDAR – And Solidifies Market Leadership

| News Release: At InterGEO, Velodyne’s Real-Time 3D LiDAR Scanners Map the

World via Land, Sea and Air

| News Release: In Anticipation of Next Generation Sensors for Auto Sector,

Industry Leader Velodyne LiDAR Scales for Mass Production | News Release: Real Earth Partners with Velodyne to Lower Cost of Entry for

Creating High Res LiDAR Maps – Without GPS

| News Release: Velodyne’s 3D LiDAR Sensor Helps European Commission Joint

Research Centre Win Indoor Localization Competition

| News Release: Frost & Sullivan Honors Velodyne LiDAR With 2015 North

American Automotive ADAS Sensors Product Leadership Award

The Velodyne Story | Timeline: From Innovation to Integration

| Velodyne and Ford Motor Company: A Study in Collaboration

| Velodyne LiDAR Management Team

| Frequently Asked Questions

| Velodyne LiDAR Family – Photo Gallery & YouTube Links

| Frost & Sullivan Award

For Immediate Release

VELODYNE ANNOUNCES ORDER FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY FOR ITS NEXT-GEN SOLID-STATE LiDAR SENSOR

DESIGNED FOR ADAS SAFETY AND AUTONOMOUS DRIVING

First 3D LiDAR Sensor Capable of Supporting All ADAS Functionality Levels

MORGAN HILL, Calif. (Jan. 5, 2016) – Velodyne announced today that it has received a purchase order from Ford Motor Company for its next-generation advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) LiDAR sensor. Velodyne’s new Solid-State Hybrid Ultra Puck™ Auto is designed to combine the functionality of its pioneering 3D LiDAR sensors in a miniaturized form factor while extending sensing range to 200 meters. Velodyne set target pricing of less than $500 per unit in automotive mass production quantities. The Solid-State Hybrid Ultra Puck Auto will be the first affordable ADAS sensor capable of supporting ADAS levels 1-4/5, including fully autonomous driving. Ford Motor Co. has been involved in research and development of autonomous driving features for more than a decade, and has worked with Velodyne during much of that time (https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2015/01/06/ford-at-ces-announces-smart-mobility-plan.html). The company’s Smart Mobility Plan includes its Fusion Hybrid Autonomous Research Vehicles, equipped with Velodyne’s HDL-32E LiDAR sensors. At the same time, Ford has developed a wide range of semi-autonomous features already implemented in vehicles currently in production. In November, Ford became the first automaker to test an autonomous vehicle at the University of Michigan’s Mcity, the world's first full-scaled simulated urban environment. The autonomous vehicle in question was outfitted with Velodyne’s real-time, 3D LiDAR sensors. “We’re pleased to supply industry innovators such as Ford with the most advanced 3D LiDAR sensor in order to improve vehicle safety and transportation convenience as soon as possible,” said Mike Jellen, Velodyne president. “This sensor was developed from Velodyne’s broad customer experience from millions of roadway miles. Only the Velodyne Solid-State Hybrid Ultra Puck Auto will deliver the data quality, form-factor and mass production pricing required for full autonomy and ADAS safety levels 3 and 4.”

About Velodyne LiDAR

Founded in 1983 and based in California’s Silicon Valley, Velodyne Acoustics, Inc. is a diversified technology company known worldwide for its high-performance audio equipment and real-time LiDAR sensors. The company’s LiDAR division evolved after founder/inventor David Hall competed in the 2004-05 DARPA Grand Challenge using stereovision technology. Based on his experience during this challenge, Hall recognized the limitations of stereovision and developed the HDL-64 Solid-State Hybrid LiDAR sensor. Velodyne subsequently released its compact, lightweight HDL-32E sensor, available for many applications including UAVs, and the new VLP-16 LiDAR Puck, a 16-channel real-time LiDAR sensor that is both substantially smaller and dramatically less expensive than previous generation sensors. Market research firm Frost & Sullivan has honored the company and the VLP-16 with its 2015 North American Automotive ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) Sensors Product Leadership Award. Since 2007, Velodyne’s LiDAR division has emerged as the leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of real-time LiDAR sensor technology used in a variety of commercial applications including autonomous vehicles, vehicle safety systems, 3D mobile mapping, 3D aerial mapping and security. For more information, visit www.velodynelidar.com. For the latest information on new products and to receive Velodyne’s newsletter, register here.

Media contacts:

Ken Greenberg Edge Communications, Inc. [email protected] (323) 469-3397 Laurel Nissen [email protected] (408) 465-2871

Booth 3416, LVCC, North Hall

AT CES, VELODYNE LiDAR ASKS THE INDUSTRY TO COME TO ITS SENSORS;

SHOWCASES BREAKTHROUGH IMPLEMENTATIONS AND DESIGNS FOR ADAS SAFETY AND AUTONOMOUS DRIVING

LiDAR Pioneer Previews its Next Gen Solid-State Hybrid ADAS Sensor,

Announces New Relationship with an Auto Industry Giant

LAS VEGAS (Jan. 4, 2016) – Velodyne LiDAR, the pioneer in autonomous vehicle technology, will raise the bar higher still at CES 2016, previewing its next generation Solid-State Hybrid ADAS (advanced driver assistance system) sensor and unveiling a new relationship with an auto industry giant. The company will also showcase breakthrough implementations in Asia and Europe, and extend its design leadership. Velodyne has already transformed a market in hyper-growth mode. The company is recognized worldwide for developing high-definition LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensors for autonomous vehicle applications, 3D mapping and surveying, robots on land and sea, and all manner of UAVs. Velodyne’s LiDAR sensors are used by virtually every car manufacturer and tier 1 supplier in the business, as well as players outside the auto industry. To view a recent CNBC interview with Velodyne founder/CEO David Hall, please see: http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000468908&play=1.

Velodyne is located in Booth 3416 in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). Among the highlights:

o The first deployment of fully autonomous production vehicles in conjunction with driverless technology specialist NAVYA, using Velodyne’s real-time 16-channel 3D VLP-16 LiDAR Pucks as part of a two-year, two-vehicle test with Swiss public transport company PostBus Switzerland Ltd. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwX7HTFHB8w)

o Ford Motor Company’s autonomous driving results at the University of Michigan’s

Mcity, the world's first full-scaled simulated urban environment, with navigational help from multiple Velodyne LiDAR sensors (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eurbzbp8VdY).

o A milestone for China’s autonomous driving effort, via a self-driving car from Baidu,

the leading Chinese language Internet search provider. The Baidu vehicle, a modified BMW 3 Series, is the country’s first to have demonstrated full autonomy under complex road conditions -- guided throughout by an HDL-64E 3D real-time sensor from Velodyne.

o A live demo at the Velodyne booth showing data fusing of multiple VLP-16s using

PolySync software from AutonomouStuff (www.autonomoustuff.com). An

automotive operating system that generates a 360-degree real-time view from multiple LiDAR sensors, cameras, and radar, PolySync facilitates the highest level ADAS/autonomous driving features for increased comfort and added safety. Outside the LVCC, a white Lincoln MKZ demo vehicle will sport two tightly integrated VLP-16s, mobile eye camera assistance and on-board radar fused with the PolySync OS and serving as an Autonomous Development Platform. The vehicle, available for rides on request, will be based at Treasure Island Hotel mornings from Jan. 6-8 and at the Westgate Hotel each afternoon.


Founded in 1983 and based in California’s Silicon Valley, Velodyne Acoustics, Inc. is a diversified technology company known worldwide for its high-performance audio equipment and real-time LiDAR sensors. The company’s LiDAR division evolved after founder/inventor David Hall competed in the 2004-05 DARPA Grand Challenge using stereovision technology. Based on his experience during this challenge, Hall recognized the limitations of stereovision and developed the HDL-64 high-resolution LiDAR sensor. Velodyne subsequently released its compact, lightweight HDL-32E sensor, available for many applications including UAVs, and the new VLP-16 LiDAR Puck, a 16-channel real-time LiDAR sensor that is both substantially smaller and dramatically less expensive than previous generation sensors. Market research firm Frost & Sullivan has honored the company and the VLP-16 with its 2015 North American Automotive ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) Sensors Product Leadership Award. Since 2007, Velodyne’s LiDAR division has emerged as the leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of real-time LiDAR sensor technology used in a variety of commercial applications including autonomous vehicles, vehicle safety systems, 3D mobile mapping, 3D aerial mapping and security. For more information, visit www.velodynelidar.com. For the latest information on new products and to receive Velodyne’s newsletter, register here.

Media contacts:

Laurel Nissen [email protected] (408) 465-2871 Ken Greenberg Edge Communications, Inc. [email protected] (323) 469-3397

Media Advisory

AT CES, KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THE WHITE LINCOLN MKAS AUTONOMOUSTUFF PREVIEWS AUTOMATED RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT

VEHICLE, EQUIPPED WITH VELODYNE LiDAR

Demonstration Vehicle Neatly Integrates VLP

Mornings at Treasure Island, Afternoons at the Westgate Hotel Near LVCC

LAS VEGAS (Jan. 4, 2016) – Combine LiDAR sensors with research development platformideal fit for CES 2016, courtesy of The solutions will come together in a white Lincoln MKZ, with two Velodyne VLPPucks discreetly integrated just below each of the headlamps. Based aHotel mornings from Jan. 6-8 and at the Westgate Hotel each afternoon, the demonstration vehicle will also be electronically controlled and outfitted with a camera. AutonomouStuff, a Velodyne channel partner and Automotive DevelopmentSolution provider, is working to adcomponents that quickly enable vehicle automation. This includesperception sensors like LiDAR Harbrick’s PolySync™ middleware software. platform that pulls together millions of data points a second. Polysync Studioreal-time view from multiple perception sensorsfeatures for increased comfort and added

AT CES, KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THE WHITE LINCOLN MKPREVIEWS AUTOMATED RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT

VEHICLE, EQUIPPED WITH VELODYNE LiDAR

Neatly Integrates VLP-16 LiDAR Pucks – Will Spend CES

Mornings at Treasure Island, Afternoons at the Westgate Hotel Near LVCC

Combine LiDAR sensors with AutonomouStuff’s automated research development platform and you’ve got a striking marriage of technologies ideal fit for CES 2016, courtesy of Velodyne LiDAR and AutonomouStuff.

The solutions will come together in a white Lincoln MKZ, with two Velodyne VLPPucks discreetly integrated just below each of the headlamps. Based at Treasure Island

8 and at the Westgate Hotel each afternoon, the demonstration electronically controlled and outfitted with a camera.

AutonomouStuff, a Velodyne channel partner and Automotive DevelopmentSolution provider, is working to advance autonomous driving by providing platform components that quickly enable vehicle automation. This includes the vehicle, perception sensors like LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), radar, cameras and

middleware software. PolySync is an automotive focused software pulls together millions of data points a second. Polysync Studio

multiple perception sensors, thereby facilitating autonomous driving features for increased comfort and added safety. Representatives from Velodyne and

AT CES, KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THE WHITE LINCOLN MKZ, PREVIEWS AUTOMATED RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT

Will Spend CES

Mornings at Treasure Island, Afternoons at the Westgate Hotel Near LVCC North Hall

AutonomouStuff’s automated and you’ve got a striking marriage of technologies — an

The solutions will come together in a white Lincoln MKZ, with two Velodyne VLP-16 LiDAR t Treasure Island

8 and at the Westgate Hotel each afternoon, the demonstration

AutonomouStuff, a Velodyne channel partner and Automotive Development Platform vance autonomous driving by providing platform

the vehicle, 3D , radar, cameras and

focused software pulls together millions of data points a second. Polysync Studio provides a

, thereby facilitating autonomous driving Representatives from Velodyne and

AutonomouStuff will be available for interviews and commentary alongside the Lincoln MKZ. “Our demonstration vehicle will enable members of the news media to get up close and personal with technologies that are now on the cusp of transforming the experience of driving,” said Bobby Hambrick, CEO, AutonomouStuff. “Progress in autonomous vehicle development has been rapid precisely because companies like Velodyne and AutonomouStuff have been able to integrate these vital building block solutions quickly and effectively,” added Velodyne CEO Mike Jellen. Velodyne LiDAR (LVCC, North Hall - 3416) has already transformed a market in hyper-growth mode. The company is recognized worldwide for developing high-definition LiDAR sensors for autonomous vehicle applications, 3D mapping and surveying, robots on land and sea and all manner of UAVs. Velodyne’s LiDAR sensors are used by virtually every car manufacturer and tier 1 supplier in the business, as well as a few players outside the auto industry. To view the Lincoln MKZ at CES, please contact Jennifer Spoerri ([email protected]) or call Edge Communications, Inc. (323-469-3397). About AutonomouStuff

AutonomouStuff is the world’s leader in supplying components used to enable automation. Headquartered in the heart of Illinois, AutonomouStuff reaches the world as the leading single-source supplier of autonomous components and engineering services. The company was founded with the goal of bringing together the world’s best technologies to enable autonomy and increase safety. For more information visit www.AutonomouStuff.com About Velodyne LiDAR


Media contacts:

Laurel Nissen [email protected] (408) 465-2871 Holly Tatum [email protected] (314) 270-2123 Ken Greenberg Edge Communications, Inc. [email protected] (323) 469-3397


AS BAIDU’S SELF-VELODYNE

Outfitted with Velodyne HDL

First Fully Autonomous Car in China; Traverses Complex 18.6 Mile Route

MORGAN HILL, Calif. (Jan. 5, 201self-driving car from Baidu, Incautonomous tests on one route with mixed roads under a variconditions – guided throughout by anVelodyne. Baidu, Inc. is the leading Chinese language Internet search provider. The Baidu vehicle, a modified BMW 3 Series, is the country’s autonomy under complex road conditions. streets required execution of a comprehensive set of driving actions and accurately responding to the driving environment. deal between Baidu and BMW to launch an autonomous carThe test drive route began at Baidu's Beijing Park in Haidian District, extendlooped back and ended at Baidu the entirety of the route and successfully executed driving actions including making right turns, left turns and U-turns, deceleratipassing other cars and merging into traffic from onvehicle reached a top speed of 62 miles per hour during the test runs.

-DRIVING CAR HITS THE ROAD IN BEIJING,VELODYNE LiDAR SENSOR GUIDES THE WAY

Outfitted with Velodyne HDL-64E 3D LiDAR Sensor, Modified BMW is


2016) – In a milestone for China’s autonomous driving effort, a Baidu, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU) has successfully completed rigorous, fully

autonomous tests on one route with mixed roads under a variety of environmental guided throughout by an HDL-64E 3D real-time sensor from LiDAR pioneer

Baidu, Inc. is the leading Chinese language Internet search provider.

The Baidu vehicle, a modified BMW 3 Series, is the country’s first to have demonstrated full complex road conditions. The 18.6-mile drive through highways and side

a comprehensive set of driving actions and accurately responding to the driving environment. The road test followed conclusion of a June 2015

Baidu and BMW to launch an autonomous car before the end of the yearat Baidu's Beijing headquarters near Zhongguancun Science

Park in Haidian District, extended to the G7 highway, Fifth Ring Road, Olympic Park, at Baidu headquarters. The car demonstrated full autonomy

the entirety of the route and successfully executed driving actions including making right turns, decelerating when detecting vehicles ahead, changing lanes,

passing other cars and merging into traffic from on-ramps and exiting from offvehicle reached a top speed of 62 miles per hour during the test runs.

DRIVING CAR HITS THE ROAD IN BEIJING,

Sensor, Modified BMW is


In a milestone for China’s autonomous driving effort, a s successfully completed rigorous, fully

ety of environmental LiDAR pioneer

Baidu, Inc. is the leading Chinese language Internet search provider.

first to have demonstrated full rough highways and side

a comprehensive set of driving actions and accurately followed conclusion of a June 2015

before the end of the year. eadquarters near Zhongguancun Science

, Fifth Ring Road, Olympic Park, then The car demonstrated full autonomy over

the entirety of the route and successfully executed driving actions including making right ng when detecting vehicles ahead, changing lanes,

ramps and exiting from off-ramps. The

"Fully autonomous driving under mixed road conditions is universally challenging, with complexity further heightened by Beijing's road conditions and unpredictable driver behavior," said Wang Jing, SVP of Baidu and General Manager of Baidu's newly established Autonomous Driving Business Unit. “Velodyne LiDAR has become the de facto standard for autonomous vehicles and we’re honored to have assisted Baidu in its rigorous inaugural test,” said Wei Weng, Velodyne Asia Sales Director. “Baidu’s autonomous car performed superbly, completing nuanced maneuvers that included recognizing road lanes and the distance between – and speed – of other vehicles. These are genuine breakthroughs for the company.” Baidu's Institute of Deep Learning, one of the three labs under Baidu Research, has led the autonomous driving project since 2013. Baidu AutoBrain, the core of Baidu's autonomous driving technology, includes highly automated driving (HAD) maps, positioning, detection, and smart decision-making and control. Relying heavily on Velodyne LiDAR sensors, Baidu's proprietary HAD maps record 3D road data to within a few centimeters of accuracy of vehicle positioning. With Baidu's leading object recognition and environment perception technology, the car can detect, recognize, and follow other vehicles with high accuracy; recognize road lanes; and accurately gauge distance and velocity. Baidu AutoBrain showcases the company's advanced automotive vertical technologies, and highlights its cutting-edge big data and advances in artificial intelligence. Baidu's autonomous driving initiative is currently the only research project in China that has passed the ISO 26262 functional safety standard. The Baidu test run extends Velodyne’s recent strong showing in China. In November, 17 of 20 competitors in China’s Intelligent Vehicle Future Challenge (IVFC) relied on real time multi-channel 3D LiDAR sensors from Velodyne – and the top five finishers all used the company’s groundbreaking HDL-64E. About Baidu

Baidu, Inc. is the leading Chinese language Internet search provider. As a technology-based media company, Baidu aims to provide the best and most equitable way for people to find what they're looking for. In addition to serving individual Internet search users, Baidu provides an effective platform for businesses to reach potential customers. Baidu's ADSs trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "BIDU.” Currently, ten ADSs represent one Class A ordinary share. About Velodyne LiDAR

Founded in 1983 and based in California’s Silicon Valley, Velodyne Acoustics, Inc. is a diversified technology company known worldwide for its high-performance audio equipment and real-time LiDAR sensors. The company’s LiDAR division evolved after founder/inventor David Hall competed in the 2004-05 DARPA Grand Challenge using stereovision technology. Based on his experience during this challenge, Hall recognized the limitations of stereovision and developed the HDL-64 high-resolution LiDAR sensor. Velodyne subsequently released its compact, lightweight HDL-32E sensor, available for many applications including UAVs, and the new VLP-16 LiDAR Puck, a 16-channel real-time LiDAR sensor that is both substantially smaller and dramatically less expensive

than previous generation sensors. Market research firm Frost & Sullivan has honored the company and the VLP-16 with its 2015 North American Automotive ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) Sensors Product Leadership Award. Since 2007, Velodyne’s LiDAR division has emerged as the leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of real-time LiDAR sensor technology used in a variety of commercial applications including autonomous vehicles, vehicle safety systems, 3D mobile mapping, 3D aerial mapping and security. For more information, visit www.velodynelidar.com. For the latest information on new products and to receive Velodyne’s newsletter, register here.

Media contacts:



VELODYNE LiDAR PUCKS TO SERVE AS ‘EYES’ FOR NAVYA DRIVERLESS ARMA SHUTTLES; INITIAL TWO-VEHICLE TEST COULD PAVE WAY

FOR AUTONOMOUS MASS TRANSIT IN SWITZERLAND

Swiss Public Transit Provider PostBus Acquires First Two Fully Autonomous

Electric Vehicles, Equipped with Compact VLP-16 LiDAR Sensors

MORGAN HILL, Calif. (Jan. 5, 2016) – In the first deployment of fully autonomous production vehicles, driverless technology specialist NAVYA will deploy Velodyne’s real-time 16-channel 3D VLP-16 LiDAR Pucks as part of two-year, two-vehicle test with Swiss public transport company PostBus Switzerland Ltd. The fully autonomous, driverless and electric ARMA shuttles will be subject to two-phase testing. The PostBus vehicles will initially be tested on a private, closed site through the spring of 2016. Once pilot-testing is authorized, the two shuttles will be able to run on public roads in the Swiss town of Sion, the capital of the Canton of Valais, and carry passengers in autonomous mode (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwX7HTFHB8w). French company NAVYA, specialists in driverless technology, unveiled its first autonomous production vehicle in an exclusive world preview in late September. The following week, the vehicle travelled on the open road for the very first time during the Intelligent Transport Systems World Congress (ITS) in Bordeaux. The ARMA will transport up to nine people at a maximum of 20 km/h through the streets of the capital of Valais. NAVYA ARMA steering systems make use of a multitude of technologies simultaneously: stereovision cameras, GPS navigation devices, infra-red sensors, inertial navigation systems and odometry, in addition to LiDAR. Thanks to its sensors, NAVYA ARMA can

position itself to within a few centimeters of its desired target and can identify all types of obstacles on the road – fixed, such as posts, and mobile, such as pedestrians -- and signage, in both daylight and at night time. “This is a turning point for our company and for autonomous technology,” said Diego Isaac, marketing executive at NAVYA Technology in Lyon. “The system has been tested and now will be operational for the public. Velodyne LiDAR is key to the 3D vision system for the ARMA electric and autonomous shuttles.” “The NAVYA ARMA shuttles, and their deployment by PostBus, represent a major milestone for autonomous transportation,” said Erich Smidt, European Sales Director for Velodyne LiDAR. “What is most remarkable is how these various technologies have matured and converged in a solution that is safe, convenient and available to all. Velodyne LiDAR is the very essence of proven technology, having collectively logged millions of hours of use time in virtually every type of terrain and weather condition. A new era truly is beginning.” ARMA shuttles will enable transport specialists to look into how they integrate into public areas and enable them to test innovative modes of transport. The aim is to offer an additional form of transportation on current routes to cover the needs of all users -- in particular, those who live in areas not currently served by the public system. About NAVYA NAVYA is a French company specialized in developing innovative, smart and sustainable solutions. NAVYA develops driverless, automated electric vehicles that are independent of all infrastructure. These vehicles are a smart mode of transport and are therefore for the benefit of all citizens and society. The vehicle is equipped with a multitude of sensors and an embedded system that enables it to interact with its surroundings. It is also intended to provide efficient mobility solutions in terms of space and energy and has been built on sustainable intermodality and multimodality. NAVYA is supported by the “Robolution Capital” investment fund and presents an innovative and ambitious solution that has been developed to take up challenges laid down by today’s society. NAVYA benefits from major advances in technology in the driverless, electric vehicle sector thanks to ten years’ experience in the field and a highly qualified R&D team. Christophe Sapet, its CEO, is supported by a team of 30 people divided up between Lyon and Paris.

About PostBus

PostBus is the leading bus company in Switzerland's public transport network. With over 3,700 employees (inclunding the drivers of the PostBus companies) and around 2,200 vehicles at its disposal, PostBus carries round 141 million passengers each year. It has a share capital of CHF 72 million. Its trademark – the three-tone horn and the yellow Postbuses – are part of Switzerland's cultural identity. The PostBus brand embodies the values of reliability, security and trust. About Velodyne LiDAR

Founded in 1983 and based in California’s Silicon Valley, Velodyne Acoustics, Inc. is a diversified technology company known worldwide for its high-performance audio equipment and real-time LiDAR sensors. The company’s LiDAR division evolved after founder/inventor David Hall competed in the 2004-05 DARPA Grand Challenge using stereovision technology. Based on his experience during this challenge, Hall recognized the limitations of stereovision and developed the HDL-64

high-resolution LiDAR sensor. Velodyne subsequently released its compact, lightweight HDL-32E sensor, available for many applications including UAVs, and the new VLP-16 LiDAR Puck, a 16-channel real-time LiDAR sensor that is both substantially smaller and dramatically less expensive than previous generation sensors. Market research firm Frost & Sullivan has honored the company and the VLP-16 with its 2015 North American Automotive ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) Sensors Product Leadership Award. Since 2007, Velodyne’s LiDAR division has emerged as the leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of real-time LiDAR sensor technology used in a variety of commercial applications including autonomous vehicles, vehicle safety systems, 3D mobile mapping, 3D aerial mapping and security. For more information, visit www.velodynelidar.com. For the latest information on new products and to receive Velodyne’s newsletter, register here. Media contacts:



AT CAPTURING REALITY FORUM, LiDAR PIONEER VELODYNE DISPLAYS MOBILE FEAST, AS MAPPING VIA REAL-TIME 3D LiDAR SENSORS TAKES OFF

Critical Mass of LiDAR Implementations Underscores

Robust Growth in Mobile Mapping Market; Velodyne Keynotes Austria Event

MORGAN HILL, Calif. (Dec. 16, 2015) – The mobile mapping market is poised for remarkable growth, thanks to breakthroughs in LiDAR technology, a host of new applications, and the economics of the business – so said Erich Smidt, European Sales Director for Velodyne LiDAR, during a keynote presentation at “Capturing Reality,” the 3D,

Laser Scanning & LiDAR Technologies Forum, held in late November in Salzburg, Austria. The takeaway? According to Smidt, “implementations that can do more, across a greater number of market segments, for far less money.” Backing up that conclusion were a half-dozen companies and applications deploying Velodyne’s multi-channel, real-time 3D LiDAR sensors – the 32-channel HDL-32E and the lighter, more compact VLP-16 LiDAR Puck -- for various mapping applications. Capturing Reality focused on the use of laser scanning, 3D imaging and LiDAR to support infrastructure development, BIM, transport, urban and coastal zone mapping, asset management, 3D visualization and GIS applications. More than 400 delegates from 35 countries gathered to hear 46 presentations delivered by leading experts. Attendees also visited the accompanying exhibition of more than 40 hardware/software manufacturers and service providers. In addition, a series of live demonstrations and technical workshops provided a very busy three-day schedule.

“Based on the product integrations at Capturing Reality, it’s clear that car-mounted mobile mapping via real-time 3D LiDAR sensors has come of age,” Smidt said. “Advancements in low-cost, real-time 3D LiDAR scanners on even more mobile platforms have expanded the market in a big way. We’re now seeing integrations that deploy sensors weighing less than a kilogram (830g) in UAV applications, including forest management, power line monitoring, and oil & gas change management. New 3D LiDAR integrations are enlisting multi-copters, fixed wing and small size gyro-copters. At the same time, multiple-channel scanning is proving remarkably effective under turbulent conditions and for minimizing shadows – what we often refer to as ‘looking around corners.’” Among the hottest emerging areas within mobile mapping, according to Smidt, are implementations without GPS/IMU that use SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) algorithms, thereby reducing payload weight and extending flight times. These SLAM algorithms are especially important for indoor mobile mapping solutions, with sensors on backpacks and push carts creating 3D maps of interior real estate and other BIM applications within minutes after scanning. Among the highlights of the Forum: Routescene, based in the U.K., presented its LiDARPod supporting both the HDL-32E and the VLP-16 as options in a highly compact, sleek, carbon-fiber design. Combined with Routescene’s LiDARViewer, raw data can quickly be turned into usable GIS information. Routescene solutions are available in the automotive, marine, rail and UAV markets. Topcon presented its second-generation mobile mapping solution, migrating from the IP-S2 with Velodyne’s HDL-64E to the much more compact IP-S3 using the HDL-32E. The IP-S3 obtains high-quality measurements with detailed shapes of objects based on 5MP 360° cameras and 700,000 data points per second from the HDL-32E. An instant preview of the acquired data is available immediately upon completion of a data collection session. Backpack-based surveying. Velodyne’s compact VLP-16 LiDAR Puck was an integral part of systems on display by Microsoft and Leica Geosystems. Leica’s backpack sported two of Velodyne’s LiDAR Pucks in order to obtain almost full 360° coverage in horizontal and vertical directions, with remarkable point cloud density. Microsoft emphasized that its UltraCam Panther backpack solution sporting the lightweight VLP-16 can easily be integrated with software packages like Orbit GT (below), resulting in industry-leading workflows and maximum customer benefit. Software provider Orbit GT (www.orbitgt.com) showed its Everything Mobile Mapping™

portfolio, an end-to-end application that uses Velodyne LiDAR point cloud data to cover production, extraction and sharing/publishing in an integrated and optimized workflow. VIAMETRIS, which develops innovative technologies in mobile 3D scanning and automatic data recognition, presented an indoor mapping trolley system that can incorporate the VLP-16 in an outdoor implementation. VIAMETRIS previously worked on a development

involving the Velodyne HDL-32E spread on a car’s roof. Using innovative 6DOF (Degrees of Freedom) SLAM, VIAMETRIS is among the earliest champions, and adopters, of the VLP-16. The company’s research team developed a backpack prototype based on a VLP-16 to manage positioning in indoor and outdoor environments. Because the VLP-16 is a 3D sensor, the positioning process is able to calculate a trajectory based on SLAM technology. About Velodyne LiDAR


Media contact:

Laurel Nissen [email protected] (408) 465-2871


VELODYNE 3D LiDAR SENSORS SWEEP TOP FIVE SPOTS IN CHINA’S INTELLIGENT VEHICLE FUTURE CHALLENGE

Inspired by DARPA Grand Challenge, 7th Annual IFVC is ‘Velodyne Country,’

With Its LiDAR Sensors Guiding 17 of 20 Entries; Full Product Line Represented

MORGAN HILL, Calif. (Nov. 30, 2015) – Coming tantalizingly close to a clean sweep, Velodyne LiDAR sensors were literally everywhere during the Intelligent Vehicle Future Challenge (IVFC) Nov. 16 in China’s Changshu city – an event showcasing autonomous vehicles in action. Fully 17 of 20 competitors relied on real time multi-channel 3D LiDAR sensors from industry leader Velodyne – and the top five finishers all used Velodyne’s groundbreaking HDL-64. Inspired by the DARPA Challenge, the IVFC is now in its seventh year, combining a conference dedicated to self-driving vehicles and a competition along a varied 13-kilometer course. The IVFC, underwritten by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, aims to advance perceptions of the natural environment and decision-making for unmanned vehicle platforms. Wei Weng, Velodyne Asia Sales Director, addressed that theme in his presentation to the future roboticists in attendance. Among the field of 20 teams, drawn from universities and research entities with some corporate sponsorship, the Military Transportation University contingent again took first place. Hailing from Tianjin, China, the MTU team won for the second consecutive year using Velodyne’s HDL-64 as its core sensing technology. Although the HDL-64 sensor was the winning technology, Velodyne is working to provide similar functionality in a form factor

and at a price suited to the automotive industry. The company is scheduled to deliver the new sensor to automotive OEMs in the first quarter of 2016. Changshu city, Jiangsu Province, is home to an economic development zone created specifically to promote the automotive industry. The IVFC course included urban, off-road and highway settings, with teams offered the option of skipping the off-road setting. Vehicles were judged on “4S” -- safety, speed, “smartness” and smoothness. The 2015 contest added a new challenge: passing other vehicles, mirroring interest in automated driving lane change features beginning to take hold in the automotive industry. “For off-road settings, Velodyne LiDAR was the critical sensing technology to simultaneously localize, map and plan a path through the unstructured environment,” Weng said. “This grueling challenge put each LiDAR sensor in our product line -- the 16-channel VLP-16 LiDAR Puck and the 32-channel HDL-32E, as well as the HDL-64 – through a series of rigorous real-world tests. We’re delighted that the HDL-64 was able to assist the top five finishers in such a substantial way, and that Velodyne was able to contribute to the education and outcomes of a dozen other teams.” About Velodyne LiDAR


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VELODYNE KEYNOTES D.C. GEOSPATIAL MAPPING CONFERENCE, OUTLINES FUTURE OF LiDAR IN TRANSPORTATION SECTOR

Geospatial Data Seen as Boon to Improving Transportation Infrastructure,

Panel Says; Mandli and Facet Technology Showcase Solutions

MORGAN HILL, Calif. (Nov. 17, 2015) – As revamping America’s transportation infrastructure claims a top spot on the nation’s agenda, LiDAR pioneer Velodyne has urged that geospatial LiDAR data be part of the solution. Speaking before the influential Geospatial Transportation and Mapping Association (GMTA) 3rd Annual Meeting and TransData Expo 2015 on Nov. 11, Velodyne executive Wolfgang Juchmann recommended that highway mapping and 3D geospatial LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data be used to expedite improvements in the country’s highways, railways and waterways. With vehicles deploying ever more sophisticated automating technologies, no single technology is more responsible for that leap than LiDAR. Transportation agencies increasingly use LiDAR for project surveying and/or extracting detailed asset and diagnostic inventories from network-wide data collections. Throughout, Velodyne has been in the forefront, developing LiDAR sensors dedicated to vehicle automation and infrastructure mapping. The company’s sensors are found on the test vehicles of nearly every major automaker and Tier 1 supplier, and used by mapping companies Microsoft/Bing Maps, Nokia/HERE Maps and TomTom, among others. In a high-profile panel discussion that followed the keynote -- addressing matters ranging from regulations and standards to the need to educate the transportation industry on the value of geospatial data -- Juchmann joined moderator Robert Dingess, GMTA head; Gavin P. Gautreau, Senior Geotechnical Research Engineer, Louisiana Transportation Research Center; Ray Mandli, President of Mandli Communications; and Darin Muncy, Market Manager, Trimble Navigation, Inc. Juchmann recapped the first decade of Velodyne’s LiDAR sensors, dating from the 2004-05 DARPA Grand Challenge, to Google’s early adoption, to its status today as de-facto standard for high level autonomous driving. He highlighted a host of current applications, including implementations by Google, Uber, Caterpillar and various front-line players in the traditional automotive industry, and described application areas in which real-time 3D LiDAR sensors may add tangible value: smart intersections, crash avoidance scenarios, using on-board data for insurance assessments, and more.

Juchmann segued from current applications in automotive, mapping and robotics -- where Velodyne is the acknowledged industry leader in 3D scanning -- to such cutting-edge applications as real-time vertical clearance measurements. One case in point: LSA Autonomy has developed a tool that combines a camera and Velodyne’s HLD-32E 3D LiDAR sensor to detect wires that may obstruct special transports of oversize objects. The system alerts the driver with acoustic and verbal warnings when clearances are insufficient. Lauding mobile mapping pioneer and fellow panelist Ray Mandli of Mandli Communications in Madison, Wis., Juchmann noted that when Bruce Hall -- brother of Velodyne founder/CEO and HDL-64E inventor David Hall -- showed Mandli the HDL-64E in 2007, he immediately recognized its potential. Mandli has used Velodyne’s LiDAR sensors ever since, starting with a Hummer-based rig that maps state-owned streets for various state departments of transportation. Texas and Utah rank as early adopters of LiDAR-driven mobile mapping, having realized the benefits of digital capture ahead of most states, Mandli reported. Other states have since followed suit, and Mandli’s rich data format has become the de facto standard for DOT highway asset management. Many of the roads captured initially have been recaptured using the much more compact HDL-32E, which now also includes calibrated reflectivity features, enabling users to locate street signs, lane markings and license plates easily. Mandli’s company, which also offers a real-time tool for bridge vertical clearances, was recently involved in pre-mapping possible routes to move a Space Shuttle fuel tank from its original location to a future storage site in Florida. In this project, guaranteeing that the chosen route did not interfere with the fuel tank was vital, and Velodyne’s HDL-32E proved up to the task. Underscoring LiDAR’s potential to boost the bottom line, Jamie Retterath of Facet Technology, Eden Prairie, Minn., chronicled how his team is using Velodyne’s HDL-32E sensors to determine reflectivity lifetimes of street signs, enabling the Minnesota Department of Transportation to save money as it replaces signs that have degraded over time. About Velodyne LiDAR

Founded in 1983 and based in California’s Silicon Valley, Velodyne Acoustics, Inc. is a diversified technology company known worldwide for its high-performance audio equipment and real-time LiDAR sensors. The company’s LiDAR division evolved after founder/inventor David Hall competed in the 2004-05 DARPA Grand Challenge using stereovision technology. Based on his experience during this challenge, Hall recognized the limitations of stereovision and developed the HDL-64 high-resolution LiDAR sensor. Velodyne subsequently released its compact, lightweight HDL-32E sensor, available for many applications including UAVs, and the new VLP-16 LiDAR Puck, a 16-channel real-time LiDAR sensor that is both substantially smaller and dramatically less expensive than previous generation sensors. Market research firm Frost & Sullivan has honored the company and the VLP-16 with its 2015 North American Automotive ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance

System) Sensors Product Leadership Award. Since 2007, Velodyne’s LiDAR division has emerged as the leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of real-time LiDAR sensor technology used in a variety of commercial applications including autonomous vehicles, vehicle safety systems, 3D mobile mapping, 3D aerial mapping and security. For more information, visit www.velodynelidar.com. For the latest information on new products and to receive Velodyne’s newsletter, register here.

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VELODYNE’S POPULAR VLP-16 3D LiDAR PUCK GUIDES ESIGELEC TEAM TO WIN IN FIRST ARGOS CHALLENGE OIL & GAS ROBOTICS COMPETITION

As Team Prepares for Round Two in March, Robot Points Way to Total Autonomy

MORGAN HILL, Calif. (Nov. 10, 2015) – Isolated and potentially vulnerable, offshore oil drilling platforms would seem ideal destinations for next-generation robots. That’s precisely the inspiration behind the ARGOS Challenge, an international robotics competition designed to foster development of a new class of autonomous robots adapted to surveillance and technical maintenance of oil and gas sites (http://www.argos-

challenge.com/en/challenge#sthash.PVW4vvtc.dpuf). And, deploying its Viking Robot – equipped with Velodyne’s VLP-16 3D real time LiDAR Puck -- a team from ISEEM, ESIGELEC’s Research Institute in Rouen, France, has emerged victorious over finalists from Japan, Austria, Spain and Switzerland.

ESIGELEC’s Team Vikings developed a 6DDL Monte Carlo Localization (MCL) based on VLP-16 measurements, with an absolute position error less than 3cm and an orientation error less than 0.3° @20Hz. Teams were evaluated on how well each addressed safety requirements, mobility and navigation, data collection, and human machine interface (HMI). In the first round, the robot had to be able to achieve automatic inspection missions under real conditions. Teams received the script two hours prior to the competition: the robot then needed to pass through control points to read gauges monitoring the state of pressure sensors and to determine whether the floodgates were open or closed. The robot needed

to traverse a 20-centimeter-high obstacle in order to automatically climb on or off the platform, and encountered various unexpected obstacles as well. The ESIGELEC Vikings robot was able to perform the first mission on automatic mode in less than four minutes, far quicker than the 20 minutes allotted to the task. “Clearly, our localization method based on VLP-16 measurements has been a key factor in our success,” said Xavier Savatier, Ph.D., Head of the Instrumentation, IT & Systems Department, ESIGELEC. “What stands out about the VLP-16 are its light weight and size, and its 360° field of view, which helped its integration on the mobile Vikings robot. The sensor’s 3D laser scan strongly reduces the perceptual aliasing problem, which is an issue since there’s so much symmetry in the outdoor site.”

“The ARGOS Challenge dramatically and effectively demonstrates what robots equipped with real time LiDAR sensors can achieve in the demanding oil and gas environment,” said Wolfgang Juchmann, Director of North America Sales and Product Management, Velodyne. “Over the duration of the challenge, robots will attempt vital tasks in simulated offshore or onshore platforms, with total autonomy and under the most extreme conditions. Those are precisely the conditions for which we developed our multi-channel 3D LiDAR sensors.” In time, robots will be capable of performing inspection tasks, detecting anomalies and intervening in emergency situations. All of the autonomous missions require precise localization, an especially difficult task to perform in an industrial outdoor setting, with pipes in all directions and no walls to define the space. The ARGOS Challenge research and development process runs for three years and includes three rounds of competition at the test site in Lacq, Midi-Pyrénées, in southern France. The difficulty level will increase during the second round competition in March. At that time, robots will be expected to identify unusual sounds such as gas leaks or cavitation bubbles inside the pipes, and check for unknown obstacles or fire extinguishers. Tests will take place on the upper levels of the structure, requiring robots to ascend and descend flights of stairs. ESIGELEC provides training for engineering students in an array of fields, including electronics, information technologies, automation and robotics. ESIGELEC is part France’s Grandes écoles academic institutions, which specialize in engineering and sciences. It is under supervision of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research and jointly managed by the chamber of commerce of Rouen, the Society of Engineers in Electrical Engineering and a consortium of private companies. About Velodyne LiDAR

Founded in 1983 and based in California’s Silicon Valley, Velodyne Acoustics, Inc. is a diversified technology company known worldwide for its high-performance audio equipment and real-time LiDAR sensors. The company’s LiDAR division evolved after founder/inventor David Hall competed in the 2004-05 DARPA Grand Challenge using stereovision technology. Based on his experience during this challenge, Hall recognized the limitations of stereovision and developed the HDL-64 high-resolution LiDAR sensor. Velodyne subsequently released its compact, lightweight HDL-32E

sensor, available for many applications including UAVs, and the new VLP-16 LiDAR Puck, a 16-channel real-time LiDAR sensor that is both substantially smaller and dramatically less expensive than previous generation sensors. Market research firm Frost & Sullivan has honored the company and the VLP-16 with its 2015 North American Automotive ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) Sensors Product Leadership Award. Since 2007, Velodyne’s LiDAR division has emerged as the leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of real-time LiDAR sensor technology used in a variety of commercial applications including autonomous vehicles, vehicle safety systems, 3D mobile mapping, 3D aerial mapping and security. For more information, visit www.velodynelidar.com. For the latest information on new products and to receive Velodyne’s newsletter, register here. Media contacts:



FOR SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, VELODYNE 3D LiDAR SENSOR ENABLES EMBRY-RIDDLE ENTRY TO TAKE FIRST PLACE IN ROBOBOAT COMPETITION

Popular VLP-16 LiDAR Puck Guides the Way Toward Second Win in Maritime Event

MORGAN HILL, Calif. (November 4, 2015) – Smart things come in small packages. Just ask the RoboBoat team from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (http://roboticsassociation.org/), which successfully defended its title as champions in the eighth annual RoboBoat Competition, held this summer in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Outfitted with Velodyne’s compact 16-channel 3D VLP-16 LiDAR Puck, the pilot-less Embry-Riddle vessel crossed the finish line ahead of the 15 other teams participating in the event, which was sponsored by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International Foundation (AUVSI) and several industry partners. The VLP-16 from Velodyne’s LiDAR Division (www.velodynelidar.com) is part of a growing family of solutions built around the company’s Light Detection and Ranging technology.

A year ago, Embry-Riddle finished first with a boat that incorporated Velodyne’s 32-channel HDL-32E LiDAR sensor. “Our performance in the RoboBoat competition was made possible for the second year in a row by the amazing Velodyne sensor,” said first-year student and team lead Kelsey Klein. “The Velodyne VLP-16 puck is an integral part of our autonomous vessel, and pairing it with our robust identification and classification algorithms gave us the edge to successfully complete the aquatic obstacle course.”

Hailing from places as far-flung as Indonesia, Taiwan, and South Korea, teams were evaluated based on the performance and designs of their student-built vessels. The mandatory tasks measured vessel speed, navigation and propulsion. Among the other challenges: automated docking, obstacle avoidance, launch and recovery from a moving boat, return to dock, and acoustic beacon positioning. “The Embry-Riddle team’s success was largely due to Velodyne’s continued support, this time with the quick turnaround of a VLP-16 unit,” said Hitesh Patel, former team member and now a consultant. “Last year, we were the first team to debut the HDL-32E and this year, with Velodyne’s state-of-the-art sensors, we continue to prove the benefits of Velodyne LIDAR products in today's autonomous technology applications. The team loved the VLP-16 sensors just as much as they did the HDL-32E. Having used the HDL-32E made it easier for the team to integrate the VLP-16 onto the RoboBoat platform.” “Our 3D LiDAR sensors guide autonomous vehicles on land, on the seas and in air, and our hats are off to Embry-Riddle University for retaining its crown,” said Wolfgang Juchmann, Director of North America Sales and Product Management, Velodyne LiDAR division. “We’re recognized worldwide for developing real-time LiDAR sensors for all kinds of autonomous applications, including 3D mapping and surveillance. With a continuous 360-degree sweep of its environment, the lightweight, extremely affordable VLP-16 is scanning power in a pint-size package – and is ideal for taking on obstacle courses, wherever they may be.” Added Kelly Cooper, program officer, sea warfare and weapons, ship systems and engineering research division, Office of Naval Research, “the [RoboBoat] course provides students with realistic maritime environment missions. The successes and challenges students experience via the competition are good preparation for a future in engineering. From completing a run to making onsite adjustments, RoboBoat offers students a first-hand look at what real-life engineers go through when developing and testing navy technologies for our sailors and Marines.” About Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the world’s largest, fully accredited university specializing in aviation and aerospace, is a nonprofit, independent institution offering more than 70 baccalaureate, master’s and Ph.D. degree programs in its colleges of Arts & Sciences, Aviation, Business, Engineering and Security & Intelligence. Embry-Riddle educates students at residential campuses in Daytona Beach, Fla., and Prescott, Ariz., through the Worldwide Campus with more than 150 locations in the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and through online programs. The university is a major research center, seeking solutions to real-world problems in partnership with the aerospace industry, other universities and government agencies. For more information, visit http://www.embryriddle.edu.


Founded in 1983 and based in California’s Silicon Valley, Velodyne Acoustics, Inc. is a diversified technology company known worldwide for its high-performance audio equipment and real-time LiDAR sensors. The company’s LiDAR division evolved after founder/inventor David Hall competed

in the 2004-05 DARPA Grand Challenge using stereovision technology. Based on his experience during this challenge, Hall recognized the limitations of stereovision and developed the HDL-64 high-resolution LiDAR sensor. Velodyne subsequently released its compact, lightweight HDL-32E sensor, available for many applications including UAVs, and the new VLP-16 LiDAR Puck, a 16-channel real-time LiDAR sensor that is both substantially smaller and dramatically less expensive than previous generation sensors. Market research firm Frost & Sullivan has honored the company and the VLP-16 with its 2015 North American Automotive ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) Sensors Product Leadership Award. Since 2007, Velodyne’s LiDAR division has emerged as the leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of real-time LiDAR sensor technology used in a variety of commercial applications including autonomous vehicles, vehicle safety systems, 3D mobile mapping, 3D aerial mapping and security. For more information, visit www.velodynelidar.com.

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AT PRESTIGIOUS NAS WORKSHOP, LiDAR PIONEER VELODYNE SKETCHES FUTURE OF LOW-ALTITUDE, LOW-COST UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES

LiDAR Mobility, Form Factor to Define Next-Generation UAVs, Velodyne’s Seto Says

MORGAN HILL, Calif. (Nov. 2, 2015) – Low-altitude, low-cost unmanned aerial vehicles are poised for a genuine breakthrough across a range of industries – and compact LiDAR sensors of unprecedented mobility will make that happen. So predicted Wayne Seto, Product Line Manager for industry leader Velodyne LiDAR, in remarks during a mid-October workshop in Washington, D.C., organized by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (http://www.nationalacademies.org/). Seto spoke before the National Academies’ Mapping Science Committee, a unit of the Board on Earth Sciences and Resources, on the ways in which high accuracy LiDAR will define next-generation UAVs and transform applications from mapping to robotics. According to Seto, low-flying, data-rich LiDAR-equipped UAVs will be especially promising in agricultural and forestry applications. In the wake of new FAA regulations governing commercial UAV flights, legal ground rules are now in place to allow surveying and overflight of agricultural areas using pre-planned UAV routes. “The goal isn’t to have someone control the UAV as it flies over the field – the goal is to use pre-programmed GPS data of the field, and then let the UAV just do it,” Seto said. “Quantitative LiDAR can indicate where the irrigation system isn’t working properly, where growth is exceptionally good or isn’t happening, where you need more fertilizer, and so on. The same approach applies in the mining industry. UAVs can use preprogrammed routes to

fly over, and actually measure, extraction of coal or any other resource taken out of the earth. Likewise, in the construction industry, where regular 3D measurements can compare the current status of building projects with plans and timelines proposed by the builder.” Seto addressed recent breakthroughs at NOAA, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, combining sonar (under water) with LiDAR (above water). Since NOAA routinely measures waterways using multi-channel sonar, combining these multi-beam sonar sensors with Velodyne’s multi-beam LiDAR, above the water’s surface, was a natural next step. Citing the compact size and affordability of Velodyne’s 16-channel VLP-16 LiDAR Puck, Seto suggested that it was now feasible to expand NOAA’s capabilities – and those of other agencies -- to measure coastlines and water infrastructure in a single pass. Software from HyPack (http://www.hypack.com/) combines multi-beam sonar with multi-beam LiDAR using the GPS/IMU infrastructure that is already onboard NOAA’s research vessels. Among the workshop’s other highlights:

o NASA Ames Lunar Rover. Consistent with the workshop’s focus on technology deployment by government agencies, the spotlight was on NASA Ames Lunar Rover. NASA uses Velodyne’s HDL-32E 360° LiDAR sensor for object detection and collision avoidance in uncharted territories, including simulated surfaces of the Moon and Mars.

o Robotic Perception: 3D Mapping. On this planet, discovering and charting unknown military targets and potentially hostile compounds represents an emerging area for LiDAR mapping. In a demonstration with a small earth-bound rover, 5D Robotics (http://5drobotics.com/) showed how Velodyne’s HDL-32E captures the layout of a compound from the inside, while keeping soldiers out of harm’s way. In parallel, the 5D Robotics application captures data from low-altitude UAVs, creating a combined 3D model of the compound —before military personnel need to enter the facility.

o Military Reconnaissance. Aerovironment (https://www.avinc.com/) relies on LiDAR technology for reconnaissance in military operations. Velodyne’s Seto screened a video of Aerovironment’s PUMA fixed-wing low-altitude drone, equipped with Velodyne’s HDL-32E, capturing a remote military airfield. LiDAR data is especially appropriate for quantitative measurements, particularly determining dimensions of storage facilities and estimating volumes of stockpiled materials. The same Aerovironment technology monitors BP oil and gas pipelines in Alaska, for early detection and quantification of changes that could result in potentially devastating ruptures. Hundreds of miles of pipelines can be monitored remotely with AV’s PUMA – with no human involvement on the ground.

o UAV-Based LiDAR Mapping. Seto highlighted a number of applications dedicated to UAV-based forest and vegetation measurement. Phoenix Aerial (http://www.phoenix-aerial.com/) demonstrated several examples that underscored the superiority of LiDAR over photogrammetry. In one case, Seto showed that trees, bushes and other unstructured vertical vegetation could be captured only through LiDAR technology; a video from Phoenix Aerial, confirmed how Velodyne’s multiple returns were able to detect both a tree canopy and the

riverbed underneath. In addition to enabling calculation of forest potential, the technology can also determine flood scenarios, were the river to ever spill over its banks.

o LiDAR: Penetration of Vegetation. At the workshop, True Reality GeoSpatial Solutions (http://www.liforest.com/), affiliated with UC Merced, focused on forest management market opportunities. In a video, the company showed an octocopter equipped with Velodyne’s lightest and most affordable LiDAR sensor, the 16-channel VLP-16 LiDAR Puck, capturing a forest and determining height, crown size and other relevant data points. The company’s forest management application extends to studies of grassland and wildlife population balance, where LiDAR-based vegetation measurements have significantly reduced the amount of work required of research teams – who formerly had to measure grasslands by hand.

Seto, who recently joined Velodyne, brings to the company 15 years of experience in product marketing and product management. He previously worked at Intersil, Fairchild Semiconductor, Amalfi Semiconductor and WJ Communications, and has a background in LiDAR, laser headlights, displays, RF and power management supporting diverse markets such as automotive, industrial, wireless infrastructure equipment and consumer. Seto successfully grew product lines at his previous companies, moving from startup mode to major revenue contributor. His expertise encompasses both inbound and outbound marketing to commercial and enterprise customers, working directly with them to define next-generation products. About Velodyne LiDAR



AT UAS/UAV MAPPING FORUM, LIDAR PIONEER VELODYNE PREVIEWS UAV REMOTE SENSING USING MULTI-BEAM 3D LiDAR

-- AND SOLIDIFIES MARKET LEADERSHIP

On First Anniversary of Its Unveiling, VLP-16 LiDAR Puck

Surpasses 1,000 Unit Sales Milestone

MORGAN HILL, Calif. (October 13, 2015) – For the second year running, at ASPRS’s UAS/UAV Mapping Forum 2015 in Reno (http://uasreno.org), Velodyne LiDAR teamed up with the industry’s leading players to put new implementations on the map. The company previewed a concept – remote sensing using multi-beam 3D LiDAR -- that figures to extend its market leadership. And as if to underscore that leadership, Velodyne made good on a prediction from the 2014 show. Unveiled last year as a “product of the future,” Velodyne’s VLP-16 LiDAR Puck -- a 16-channel, real-time 3D LiDAR sensor -- has literally taken off. At UAS/UAV Mapping Forum on Sept. 29-30, the company announced that more than 1,000 VLP-16 sensors have been sold since the product’s formal unveiling at last fall’s event. A substantial portion of those sales have involved UAV applications, thanks to the product’s affordable pricing, extremely light weight, compact size and multiple-beam support. As predicted, the Velodyne LiDAR Puck has dramatically expanded the use of 3D LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology sensors in robotics, unmanned aerial vehicles and factory automation applications. The VLP-16 is substantially smaller than anything else on the market and has established a new standard for affordability. The two days of presentations, panel discussions, exhibits and real-time UAV flights drew 500+ attendees and 50 exhibitors, from UAV manufacturers and flight controllers, to payload options specialists, processing software professionals and academics. The event was again organized by the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS), the Imaging and Geospatial Information Society -- a scientific non-profit association with a mission to advance knowledge and improve understanding of mapping sciences, to promote the responsible applications of photogrammetry, remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), and supporting technologies. In his presentation on the latest in UAV-based remote sensing, Velodyne Director of Sales Wolfgang Juchmann described the multiple beam concept as “especially useful for UAV

applications, since it makes the system more gust-proof, minimizes shadows, increases penetration into vegetation to the level of recognizing individual branches and leaves, and provides highest point cloud densities since multiple beams measure the same area from different angles.”

Velodyne LiDAR highlighted a range of applications ranging from forest management, to oil & gas pipe monitoring to military reconnaissance, with integrations from companies like Phoenix Aerial Systems, using Velodyne’s 32-channel HDL-32E and the VLP-16 on DJI-1000; Aerovironment, with the HDL-32E on fixed-wing PUMA; and TRGS, with the HDL-32E and VLP-16 on Octocopter. Juchmann additionally showed 3D point clouds of vegetation and power lines using 3D multi-beam LiDAR -- applications that photogammetry simply cannot handle. With size, weight and price top-of-mind for attendees attuned to matters of UAV payloads, Juchmann addressed all three in a single pass during a panel discussion of sensor experts, pulling an HDL-32E sensor out of his jacket and the LIDAR Puck out of his pants pocket. “There’s a great deal of interest in this market generally and in the Velodyne Puck class of product specifically,” he said. “What’s new isn’t simply recording data with the sensor but using real-time, 3D LIDAR sensors to actually help avoid collisions – in the air, to stay clear of other UAVs, and likewise on the ground, to find a suitable landing site when faced with the unknown, in a military hot zone or an area in the wilderness.” About Velodyne LiDAR



AT INTERGEO, VELODYNE’S REAL-TIME 3D LIDAR SCANNERS MAP THE WORLD VIA LAND, SEA AND AIR

As Scanning Goes Mobile, LiDAR Leader Shows 12 Diverse Integrations

At World’s Largest Surveying/Mapping Show

MORGAN HILL, Calif. (October 6, 2015) – No longer tethered to tripods and static data capture, mapping and surveying have gone mobile, thanks in part to innovative implementations built around Velodyne LiDAR’s compact 3D real-time sensors -- as the company demonstrated in 12 diverse integrations at the recent InterGEO 2015 in Stuttgart, Germany. Drawing attendees from around the globe, InterGEO 2015, held Sept. 15-17, is the world’s largest surveying and mapping tradeshow, showcasing the latest technologies to capture the world in 3D. Where surveyors have traditionally mounted LiDAR scanners on tripods to get the job done, mobility is now the watchword, with lightweight scanners positioned on mobile platforms, gathering data while continuously moving through the environment -- without stopping traffic or placing measuring crews in harm’s way. Mobile vehicles equipped with 3D LiDAR, video and GPS/IMU are already a common sight in major cities, soon to be joined by backpack-based mobile mapping for areas vehicles can’t reach – and much more, as InterGEO previewed:

o Backpack-based surveying. At InterGEO, Velodyne’s compact VLP-16 LiDAR Puck – a lightweight 16-channel 3D, real-time scanner -- proved an integral part of systems on display by Microsoft and Leica Geosystems. Leica’s backpack -- which received the prestigious InterGEO Wichmann Award during this year’s show -- sported two of Velodyne’s LiDAR Pucks in order to obtain almost full 360° coverage in horizontal and vertical directions, with remarkable point cloud density.

o Vehicle-based mapping. Leica also displayed its established Pegasus II vehicle-

based mobile mapping solution, with the optional Velodyne HDL-32E 32-channel sensor on board. Topcon (https://www.topconpositioning.com/mass-data-and-volume-

collection/mobile-mapping/ip-s3), another major player exhibiting vehicle-based mobile mapping solutions, showcased its IP-S3, which also deployed Velodyne’s HDL-32E, in combination with a camera and its world class, in-house navigational equipment.

o Segway-driven mapping. Swedish company Satlab

(http://www.satlabgps.com/en.aspx) turned heads on the InterGEO show floor with a novel, real-time 3D integration of Velodyne’s compact VLP-16 on a Segway, complementing its vehicle-based mapping solution, also on display at InterGEO, built around the HDL-32E.

o Marine implementations. In addition to displaying an HDL-32E-based mobile mapping solution under its Zenith brand, Dutch innovator Seabed

(http://www.seabed.nl/) combined Velodyne’s 16-channel LiDAR Puck with a multi-channel sonar scanner, enabling 3D measurements above the water line – and, submerged, below the water line.

o Airborne mapping. A number of system integrators at InterGEO offered airborne

LiDAR solutions, among them leading UAV provider Phoenix Aerial Systems (http://www.phoenix-aerial.com/). Phoenix Aerial showcased its third generation AL3 platform using the HDL-32E with application examples ranging from power line inspection to oil & gas and in the mining sector. Phoenix’s attractively priced “Scout” system sported a lightweight VLP-16 for similarly demanding applications.

o Forest management. Specializing in UAV-based LiDAR solutions used for forest

management, LiForest’s Li-Air (http://www.liforest.com/?p=14132) captured point clouds with both Velodyne’s sensors, the HDL-32E and the VLP-16. The Li-Air solution analyzes the point clouds to isolate individual trees and establish databases that contain tree height, volume and density measurements -- all attributes deemed vital when managing a commercial forest effectively.

“As InterGEO demonstrated conclusively, the power and versatility of our LiDAR sensors is unprecedented in the industry,” said Mike Jellen, Velodyne president. “Across a range of market segments and applications, our scanners are providing essential enabling

technology. As our relationships with our integration partners continue to grow and deepen, we look forward to innovating in ways that enrich users and build markets.” About Velodyne LiDAR


Media contact:

Laurel Nissen [email protected] (408) 465-2871


IN ANTICIPATION OF NEXT GENERATION SENSORS FOR AUTO SECTOR, INDUSTRY LEADER VELODYNE LiDAR SCALES FOR MASS PRODUCTION

Company Prepares for Smaller Form Factors, 3D Visualization for Driver Safety –

Shows Preliminary Design Concept

MORGAN HILL, Calif. (August 31, 2015) – Technology innovator Velodyne LiDAR today announced that the company is preparing to scale up for high-volume manufacturing of sensors for automotive applications, including self-driving cars. Velodyne is recognized worldwide for creating the standard for high-definition, real-time 3D LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensors for autonomous vehicle applications, establishing the critical enabling technology for the industry. Velodyne introduced LiDAR during the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge and has since optimized it for self-driving cars. Today, Velodyne’s multi-channel 3D sensors are used by virtually every car manufacturer and tier 1 supplier in the auto industry, as well as for heavy equipment, trucks, and marine navigation. Velodyne is now poised for mass production of its VLP-16 LiDAR Puck and successor products, according to Mike Jellen, company president. Announced last fall, the VLP-16 is a 16-channel real-time 3D LiDAR sensor that is both substantially smaller and significantly less expensive than previous generation sensors. In a bid to bolster auto safety, Velodyne will also develop and market LiDAR sensors aimed at alerting drivers to potential hazards via 3D visualization, and has released a preliminary design concept. In recent months, Velodyne has taken a series of actions designed to accelerate the company’s move from a market leading innovator with recognized customers worldwide, to a sophisticated organization known for industry-leading business practices and rigorous business process improvement.

In addition to naming Jellen -- a seasoned industrial automation executive with extensive global and domain experience -- president and COO, Velodyne recently appointed Pieter Kerstens Vice President of Engineering. Kerstens is a 30-year veteran of high tech engineering and manufacturing management within the U.S., Europe and Asia, for organizations that include TDK, Xicato, IBM, Philips and Hitachi, among others. This summer, the company also appointed a senior executive to oversee its mass production capabilities. Velodyne recently set up a production-line style manufacturing process for the VLP-16 and subsequent products, a line that can be adapted to robotics and automation while ensuring automotive-grade reliability. “We have long been the industry’s reference point in LiDAR, delivering innovative, versatile products, based on proven technology, to some 500 customers thus far,” Jellen said. “Within the last eight years, vehicles equipped with Velodyne LiDAR sensors are estimated to have carried in excess of 3,000 drivers and traveled more than 50 million incident-free miles. That’s the track record of an undisputed market leader.” The market analyst firm Frost & Sullivan honored the company and the VLP-16 with its 2015 North American Automotive ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) Sensors Product Leadership Award, reporting that Velodyne “has developed the right product at the right price, giving them a critical competitive advantage in the market (with a) “a 'best of both worlds' offering.” About Velodyne LiDAR

Founded in 1983 and based in California’s Silicon Valley, Velodyne Acoustics, Inc. is a diversified technology company known worldwide for its high-performance audio equipment and real-time LiDAR sensors. The company’s LiDAR division evolved after founder/inventor David Hall competed in the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge using stereovision technology. Based on his experience during this challenge, Hall recognized the limitations of stereovision and developed the HDL-64 high-resolution LiDAR sensor. Velodyne subsequently released its compact, lightweight HDL-32E sensor, available for many applications including UAVs, and the new VLP-16 LiDAR Puck, a 16-channel real-time LiDAR sensor that is both substantially smaller and dramatically less expensive than previous generation sensors. Market research firm Frost & Sullivan has honored the company and the VLP-16 with its 2015 North American Automotive ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) Sensors Product Leadership Award. Since 2007, Velodyne’s LiDAR division has emerged as the leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of real-time LiDAR sensor technology used in a variety of commercial applications including autonomous vehicles, vehicle safety systems, 3D mobile mapping, 3D aerial mapping and security. For more information, visit www.velodynelidar.com. For the latest information on new products and to receive Velodyne’s newsletter, register here. Media Contact

Ken Greenberg Edge Communications, Inc. (323) 469-3397 [email protected]


REAL EARTH PARTNERS WITH VELODYNE TO LOWER COST OF ENTRY FOR CREATING HIGH RES LiDAR MAPS -- WITHOUT GPS

Alliance Seen Enabling Growth of New Applications;

Collaboration Supports Velodyne’s Full Line of Real-Time 3D LiDAR Sensors

MORGAN HILL, Calif. and PITTSBURGH (August 13, 2015) – In a move aimed at stimulating the growth of new mapping applications, Real Earth (http://realearth.us) has partnered with Velodyne LiDAR to lower the cost of entry for creation of high quality LiDAR-sourced maps – without reliance on GPS. As part of the collaboration, Real Earth will offer users free access to its web-based software, which processes Velodyne LiDAR data and converts it into maps. Because costly GPS and inertial navigation systems are not required, these next-generation maps are significantly more affordable than those developed with standard mapping systems. Real Earth’s web-based service (http://realearth.us/mapmaker) enables users to upload laser scans and receive dense 3D reconstructions in return. Standard CAD tools can then view and manipulate the registered point clouds. The Real Earth/Velodyne collaboration supports all three models of Velodyne’s high-definition, real-time 3D LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensors – the original 64-channel HDL-64E, the popular 32-channel HDL-32E, and the newest, cost-competitive model, the 16-channel VLP-16 LiDAR Puck. For applications where the sensors are moving

rapidly, Real Earth’s algorithms take advantage of the information from the HDL-32E’s IMU (Inertial Moment Unit), adding another layer of robustness. Real Earth develops software for 3D laser scan registration and real-time position estimation that can be deployed on hand-held, ground vehicle, or aerial platforms. The real-time software is simple to use— sensors and systems can be standalone, without requiring synchronization of external GPS receivers and IMUs and thereby require little integration effort. Velodyne is recognized worldwide as the standard for LiDAR sensors for autonomous vehicle applications, having created enabling technology for the industry. Velodyne introduced multi-channel, real-time 3D LiDAR during the 2004-2005 DARPA Grand Challenge and has since optimized the technology for a range of other applications, from unmanned aerial vehicles and mobile mapping to robotics and factory automation. “The speed and ease with which these LiDAR maps are created is nothing short of remarkable,” said Dave Duggins, Project Manager at Real Earth. “Imagine someone walking through a 12-story parking structure and five minutes later having a stunning registered 3D point cloud. That’s what we’re so excited about.” “Our collaboration with Real Earth represents a real breakthrough in mobile mapping,” said Wolfgang Juchmann, Ph.D., Velodyne Director of Sales & Marketing. “Velodyne’s new VLP-16 LiDAR Puck is a perfect fit for this web service. The Puck’s compact size and light weight keeps it mobile and its market-leading price keeps the cost of entry low. For customers who need higher accuracy, the HDL-32E is ideal, with its built-in IMU sensors that augment the SLAM algorithms in high-velocity applications, like handheld or on UAVs.” Users can log laser scans using Velodyne’s open-source VeloView software, Real Earth’s drivers from their web site, or other open-source drivers, including those from Robotic Operation System (www. ros.org) or the HDL-Grabber by PointCloudLibrary (www.openperception.org). Up to 1 GB of Velodyne LiDAR data can be uploaded via a web interface for free, and registered point clouds are available and accessible anywhere within a few hours via a link emailed to the user. Real Earth plans to license its software to produce maps for larger volume customers or to provide real-time pose estimates for robotic guidance and navigation. About Velodyne LiDAR

Founded in 1983 and based in California’s Silicon Valley, Velodyne Acoustics, Inc. is a diversified technology company known worldwide for its high-performance audio equipment and real-time LiDAR sensors. The company’s LiDAR division evolved after founder/inventor David Hall competed in the 2004-05 DARPA Grand Challenge using stereovision technology. Based on his experience during this challenge, Hall recognized the limitations of stereovision and developed the HDL-64 high-resolution LiDAR sensor. Velodyne subsequently released its compact, lightweight HDL-32E sensor, available for many applications including UAVs, and the new VLP-16 LiDAR Puck, a 16-channel real-time LiDAR sensor that is both substantially smaller and dramatically less expensive than previous generation sensors. Market research firm Frost & Sullivan has honored the company

and the VLP-16 with its 2015 North American Automotive ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) Sensors Product Leadership Award. Since 2007, Velodyne’s LiDAR division has emerged as the leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of real-time LiDAR sensor technology used in a variety of commercial applications including autonomous vehicles, vehicle safety systems, 3D mobile mapping, 3D aerial mapping and security. For more information, visit www.velodynelidar.com. For the latest information on new products and to receive Velodyne’s newsletter, register here.

About Real Earth

Real Earth is a Pittsburgh based company commercializing software for rapid 3D reconstruction using laser scanners. Real Earth is creating software tools to address the mapping needs of several industries: architecture, real estate, insurance, mining and agriculture. In addition, Real Earth software can be used to estimate accurate 6-DOF motion without need for retrofitting the environment. For the latest information on new products, and services, please visit www.realearth.us or email [email protected]. Media Contacts

Ken Greenberg Edge Communications, Inc. (323) 469-3397 [email protected] Dave Duggins Product Manager Real Earth, Inc. (412) 621-4300 [email protected]


VELODYNE’S 3D LiDAR SENSOR HELPS EUROPEAN COMMISSIONJOINT RESEARCH CENTRE

JRC Outshines 27 Others at Microsoft Event; Velodyne HDL

Showcased in System Designed to Inspect Nuclear Facilities Worldwide

MORGAN HILL, Calif. (July 28, 2015) Centre (JRC), the European Commission's inglobal mix of 27 teams from academia and industry, achieving the best overall result at a recent Microsoft-sponsored indoor localization competition in Seattle LiDAR sensor technology from Velodyne is the worldwide leader in the development of realrobotics, autonomous vehicles and an array of other applications, including mobile mapping and UAVs. With a continuous 36020 times per second, Velodyne’s lightweight sensors capture data at a rate of almost a million points per second, within a range of 100 meters. The competition, organized annually by Microsoft, gathers teams to evaluate the performance of various localization systems. Providing accurate position information on people and objects indoors, wherfor governments and industry. The competition was carried out in two categories infrastructure-based systems, pegged to installed radio beacons, and infrastructuresystems, which rely only on sensor readings. The JRC competed in the infrastructure

VELODYNE’S 3D LiDAR SENSOR HELPS EUROPEAN COMMISSIONJOINT RESEARCH CENTRE WIN INDOOR LOCALIZATION COMPETITION

JRC Outshines 27 Others at Microsoft Event; Velodyne HDL-32E Sensor


MORGAN HILL, Calif. (July 28, 2015) – A team of researchers from the Joint Research , the European Commission's in-house science service, has outperformed a

global mix of 27 teams from academia and industry, achieving the best overall result at a sponsored indoor localization competition in Seattle – and 3D, real

LiDAR sensor technology from Velodyne proved to be key to the victory.

Velodyne is the worldwide leader in the development of real-time, 3D LiDAR sensors for ics, autonomous vehicles and an array of other applications, including mobile

mapping and UAVs. With a continuous 360-degree sweep of its environment updated up to 20 times per second, Velodyne’s lightweight sensors capture data at a rate of almost a

ion points per second, within a range of 100 meters.

The competition, organized annually by Microsoft, gathers teams to evaluate the performance of various localization systems. Providing accurate position information on people and objects indoors, where GPS signals are not available, has long been a challenge for governments and industry. The competition was carried out in two categories

based systems, pegged to installed radio beacons, and infrastructureon sensor readings. The JRC competed in the infrastructure

VELODYNE’S 3D LiDAR SENSOR HELPS EUROPEAN COMMISSION WIN INDOOR LOCALIZATION COMPETITION

32E Sensor


Research house science service, has outperformed a

global mix of 27 teams from academia and industry, achieving the best overall result at a and 3D, real-time

time, 3D LiDAR sensors for ics, autonomous vehicles and an array of other applications, including mobile

degree sweep of its environment updated up to 20 times per second, Velodyne’s lightweight sensors capture data at a rate of almost a

The competition, organized annually by Microsoft, gathers teams to evaluate the performance of various localization systems. Providing accurate position information on

e GPS signals are not available, has long been a challenge for governments and industry. The competition was carried out in two categories --

based systems, pegged to installed radio beacons, and infrastructure-free on sensor readings. The JRC competed in the infrastructure-free

category, where it finished in the top spot, with a localization error of 0.2 m, which also surpassed the best result in the infrastructure-based category. For the competition, the JRC used its proprietary Sensor Tracking and Mapping (STeAM) system, a backpack-mounted device that integrates Velodyne’s HDL-32E real-time, 3D LiDAR sensor, which acquires 10 frames per second as the user explores the environment. The on-board software processes the 3D data, generating the current location and a map of the environment in real-time. A patent application for JRC’s technology is pending. The JRC developed STeAM for nuclear safeguards applications to provide location information and change monitoring inside nuclear facilities. The system can enable nuclear inspectors to associate all measurements and observations made during an inspection with the corresponding location within the nuclear facility and thereby facilitate subsequent analysis and future inspections. Furthermore, by comparing the 3D maps generated at two subsequent facility inspections, STeAM can highlight structural changes that might be indicative of undeclared modifications or additional capacities within this facility. The JRC creates tools for inspectors from Euratom, Europe’s nuclear monitoring agency, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which inspects some 700 facilities worldwide each year. For more than a decade, the JRC has been working with 3D laser scanning technology, to verify design information within nuclear facilities.

“With the LiDAR-equipped backpack system, our team was able to gather and process 3D data in real time, for immediate feedback– and that’s why it was possible to win the Microsoft competition,” said Erik Wolfart, Scientific Officer at the European Commission, Joint Research Centre, in Ispra, Italy. The STeAM system will be deployed for a facilities inspection in November 2015 for the first time. “In the past, it took a team of eight inspectors one week, using scanners in fixed positions. Enlisting a two-person team for a single day will be so much faster and more efficient.” “As this application shows, mobile 3D LiDAR is the new critical element to effective and efficient inspections of nuclear facilities all over the world,” said Wolfgang Juchmann, Ph.D., Velodyne Director of Sales & Marketing. “The mobility of our sensors – the HDL-32E and especially the VLP-16 LiDAR Puck – means faster inspections, and the 360 degrees of freedom our sensors deliver is ideal for mobile/backpack based data-gathering inside large closed rooms. While Velodyne is already the established leader for vehicle based mobile mapping, backpack based indoor mapping, without GPS accessibility, opens the door to scanning buildings from the inside, and leads to an array of new and exciting applications.”


Founded in 1983 and based in California’s Silicon Valley, Velodyne Acoustics, Inc. is a diversified technology company known worldwide for its high-performance audio equipment and real-time LiDAR sensors. The company’s LiDAR division evolved after founder/inventor David Hall competed in the 2004-05 DARPA Grand Challenge using stereovision technology. Based on his experience during this challenge, Hall recognized the limitations of stereovision and developed the HDL-64 high-resolution LiDAR sensor. Velodyne subsequently released its compact, lightweight HDL-32E sensor, available for many applications including UAVs, and the new VLP-16 LiDAR Puck, a 16-

channel real-time LiDAR sensor that is both substantially smaller and dramatically less expensive than previous generation sensors. Market research firm Frost & Sullivan has honored the company and the VLP-16 with its 2015 North American Automotive ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) Sensors Product Leadership Award. Since 2007, Velodyne’s LiDAR division has emerged as the leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of real-time LiDAR sensor technology used in a variety of commercial applications including autonomous vehicles, vehicle safety systems, 3D mobile mapping, 3D aerial mapping and security. For more information, visit www.velodynelidar.com. For the latest information on new products and to receive Velodyne’s newsletter, register here.


FROST & SULLIVAN HONORS VELODYNE LiDAR WITH

2015 NORTH AMERICAN AUTOMOTIVE ADAS SENSORS PRODUCT LEADERSHIP AWARD

Prestigious Analyst Firm Calls VLP-16 Puck

‘Right Product at the Right Price’

MORGAN HILL, Calif. (March 24, 2015) – Velodyne LiDAR announced today that Frost & Sullivan, the prestigious market research firm, has honored the company with its 2015 North American Automotive ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) Sensors Product Leadership Award. In a 12-page report, the analyst firm, which is based in San Antonio, lauded Velodyne’s new VLP-16 LiDAR Puck, a 16-channel real-time 3D LiDAR sensor that is both substantially smaller and significantly less expensive than previous generation sensors.

“Frost & Sullivan feels that Velodyne has developed the right product at the right price, giving them a critical competitive advantage in the market,” noted the report, issued

by the firm’s Best Practices Research Group. “By amalgamating best-in-class quality, superior functionality, unrivaled reliability and affordability, Velodyne has truly engineered a 'best of both worlds' offering.” “As an important go-to resource for corporate decision-making, Frost & Sullivan evaluates technologies across the spectrum, which is why its word carries such great weight as organizations make procurement decisions,” said Wolfgang Juchmann, Director of Sales & Marketing, Velodyne LiDAR. “We’re honored and delighted by the recognition, but even more, we greatly appreciate the depth and quality of Frost & Sullivan’s analysis of the VLP-16.” According to the report, “the VLP-16 offers tremendous growth potential in the future, with sales expected to cross several thousands of units when autonomous vehicles become a norm in the industry. LiDAR systems used in demonstrator vehicles cost between $75,000 and $85,000; in contrary, Velodyne's VLP-16 is roughly $8,000, one-tenth the cost of premium-priced LiDAR systems… To be a product leader, companies must introduce innovative and highly effective solutions that address key industry challenges. Frost & Sullivan is convinced that Velodyne has accomplished this with its VLP-16 sensor system.”

Frost & Sulliivan observes that “market trends have driven sensor manufacturers to charge a premium price for their different sensors, yet [our] analysis shows that this premium pricing is turning OEMs off. As vehicles become more and more autonomous, companies that can bridge the gap between cost and quality will become the industry's 'preferred vendors.’ Despite the current market being in a nascent stage, 9 out of 10 OEMs use a Velodyne sensor, giving clear evidence of the company's excellent reputation in the industry.” Summing up, Frost & Sullivan concludes that the VLP-16 “is on par with 64-channel systems in terms of its reliability and functionality yet it is much more affordable, increasing the system's adoption potential. The VLP-16… was developed with the purpose of catering to mass-market consumers, boasting essential features such as real- time, 360°, 3D distance, and calibrated reflectivity measurements… By meeting key market needs and concomitantly offering the best of both worlds, Frost & Sullivan firmly believes Velodyne's solution to be the most compelling ADAS sensor in the Automotive space today.”


Founded in 1983 and based in California’s Silicon Valley, Velodyne Acoustics, Inc. is a diversified technology company known worldwide for its high-performance audio equipment and real-time LiDAR sensors. The company’s LiDAR division evolved after founder and inventor David Hall competed in the 2004-05 DARPA Grand Challenge using stereovision technology. Based on his experience during this challenge, Hall recognized the limitations of stereovision and developed the HDL64 high-resolution LiDAR sensor. Velodyne subsequently released its compact, lightweight HDL-32E sensor, available for many applications including UAVs, and the new VLP-16 LiDAR Puck, a 16-channel real-time LiDAR sensor that is both substantially smaller and dramatically less expensive than previous generation sensors. Market research firm Frost & Sullivan has honored the company and the VLP-16 with its 2015 North American Automotive ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) Sensors Product Leadership Award. Since 2007, Velodyne’s LiDAR division has emerged as a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of real-time LiDAR sensor technology used in a variety of commercial applications including autonomous vehicles, vehicle safety systems, 3D mobile mapping, 3D aerial mapping and security. For more information, visit www.velodynelidar.com. For the latest information on new products and to receive Velodyne’s newsletter, register here.

Media Contacts

Ken Greenberg Edge Communications, Inc. (323) 469-3397 [email protected]

Velodyne LiDAR @ CES 2016

Timeline: From Innovation to Integration Velodyne's expertise with laser distance measurement began with the company’s participation in the 2004 Grand Challenge sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Organized as a race among autonomous vehicles across the Mojave Desert, DARPA's goal was to stimulate autonomous vehicle technology development for both military and commercial applications. Velodyne founders David and Bruce Hall entered the competition as Team DAD (Digital Audio Drive), traveling 6.2 miles in the first event and 25 miles in the second. The team developed technology for visualizing the environment, first using a dual video camera approach and later developing the laser-based system that laid the foundation for Velodyne's current product line. The first Velodyne LIDAR scanner was about 30 inches in diameter and weighed close to 100 pounds. Choosing to commercialize the LIDAR scanner instead of competing in subsequent challenge events, Velodyne was able to dramatically reduce the sensor's size and weight while also improving performance. Velodyne's HDL-64E sensor was the primary means of terrain map construction and obstacle detection for all the top DARPA Urban Challenge teams in 2007 and used by five out of six of the finishing teams, including the winning and second place teams. In fact, some teams relied exclusively on the HDL-64E for the information about the environment used to navigate an autonomous vehicle through a simulated urban environment. Milestones 1983 - Velodyne Acoustics formed when David Hall patents servo control for loudspeakers, enabling a near-distortion-free bass experience, even at high volumes. Today, Velodyne’s subwoofers are recognized worldwide as best-in-class. 2000 - 2001 – David and Bruce Hall participate in BattleBots®, Robotica®, and Robot Wars® competitions, achieving runner-up world champion status. 2004 - Team “Digital Auto Drive” (DAD) competes in the first DARPA Grand Challenge using stereo-vision technology. The vehicle survives 6.2 miles, finishing third. The limits of stereo-vision motivated David Hall to explore LiDAR technology as the main means for monitoring the environment in real-time 360º.

2005 - Team DAD enters the second Grand Challenge using 64-element LIDAR technology. A steering control board failure ends their race at 25 miles, finishing 11th of all finishers. Five vehicles complete the race, with Stanford Racing team winning the event. 2006 - Velodyne offers a more compact version of its 64-element LIDAR scanner -- the HDL-64E -- for sale. Top Grand Challenge teams immediately place orders. Team DAD declines to enter the next DARPA Urban Challenge event, focusing instead on supplying LIDAR scanners to all top teams. 2007 – At the 2007 DARPA Urban Challenge, five of the six finishing teams use the HDL-64E -- including the winning and second place teams. 2008 – Velodyne introduces the HDL-64E S2 Series 2 sensor. 2010 -- Velodyne unveils the HDL-32E sensor. 2012 – Velodyne launches firmware version 2 for the HDL-32E, introducing Calibrated Reflectivities that enable differentiation between diffuse reflectors (trees, houses, etc.) and retro-reflectors (street-signs, lane markings, license plates). Firmware 2 also supports firmware upgrades in the field and configuration control of the HDL-32E via an easy-to-use WebServer GUI. 2014 - In a bid to dramatically expand the use of 3D LiDAR sensors in robotics, unmanned aerial vehicles and automation applications, Velodyne’s unveiled the Velodyne LiDAR Puck, dubbed the VLP-16. The new 16-channel real-time LiDAR sensor is both substantially smaller and – with an introductory price of $7,999 -- significantly less expensive than previous generation sensors. 2015 - At two of the nation’s leading surveying and mapping technology conferences this spring -- International LIDAR Mapping Forum (ILMF) in Denver and SPAR International in Houston – Velodyne put its new VLP-16 LiDAR Puck firmly on the map, with the first integrations from leading mapping vendors. 2015 - Velodyne LiDAR announced that the company is preparing to scale up for high-volume manufacturing of sensors for automotive applications, including self-driving cars.


Velodyne and Ford Motor Company: A Study in Collaboration During the DARPA Grand Challenge in 2004, David Hall and Ford’s Jim McBride struck up a professional friendship that has led to numerous exchanges of ideas and requirements for LiDAR sensors suitable for the automotive industry. While Ford had its own competition vehicle and research partnership with the University of Michigan, Velodyne’s Team “DAD” was privately sponsored by the Hall brothers and participation from Velodyne Acoustics’ engineering team. It’s no secret that McBride was instrumental in the discussions that led Hall to explore LiDAR as a better way to capture a vehicle’s environment in real time. The first sensor Hall built was based on a state-of the art stereo-vision camera with color CCD chips from Texas Instruments. The stereo camera was, however, limited to only “look” in one direction, and it didn’t perform well in low light conditions. In Hall’s words, “we could see some things all of the time and all of the things some of the time, but not all the things all the time.” After the first challenge, Hall got to thinking and responded by inventing a spinning sensor based on LiDAR’s time-of-flight technology. Never had he seen a LiDAR-based measurement device. Equipped only with theoretical knowledge, Hall relied on his intuition as an inventor and knowledge of what he wanted the sensor to do – and proceeded to create the first spinning Velodyne sensor. “The spinning part helps with the 360º viewing capabilities and LiDAR helps to provide the measured distances in a computer friendly format,” Hall said during a recent meeting with Ford. “However, the most important element of the sensor is that it can measure 64 channels almost simultaneously,” noted Ford’s McBride. “This is what enables the sensor to take measurements in real-time and thereby enable self-driving cars to make important driving decisions based on an environment measured live.” It became clear early on that Hall had invented a game-changer for the autonomous driving market. McBride and others embraced this new technology, and during the DARPA Urban Challenge many competitors used Hall’s spinning LiDAR sensor for object detection and collision avoidance.

In 2008, after the DARPA Challenge days, Ford Motor Company started to look even more intensively into driving-assisted vehicles; the HDL-64E was instrumental for a variety of different projects leading in that direction. McBride’s team started looking into ways to store 3D data from the sensor and, together with other sensors, create a sophisticated map for driving-assisted cars. The challenge with pre-recorded maps is that while they are highly accurate at the time of recording, within a few weeks the environment changes and the maps are out of date. The challenge for McBride’s team was to find the right balance between pre-recorded maps and real-time data acquisition during an actual drive. Velodyne’s HDL-64E and, more recently, HDL-32E sensors helped the Ford team to tackle both tasks: 3D mapping and real-time data capture. That’s largely why the Ford Fusion Hybrid Research Vehicle – unveiled in mid-December 2013 -- sports four of the compact, lighter-weight HDL-32Es on an ergonomically designed roof rack. These sensors capture the road around the vehicle in great detail during map recording phases and when actually driving (almost) autonomously.

Management Team

David Hall Founder & CEO

David Hall is founder and Chief Executive Officer of Velodyne, Inc., a diversified technology company known worldwide for its high-performance audio equipment and high–definition LiDAR sensors for autonomous vehicle applications. An inventor, visionary and entrepreneur since building his first amplifier at the age of 4, Hall is responsible for a number of innovations – including the first hand-held computerized tachometer, which he built in the late 1970s. Since founding Velodyne Acoustics, Inc. in 1983, Hall has received eight patents, including several that have revolutionized low-frequency sound. These include the first high-gain, servo-controlled subwoofer, a 120 lb. speaker system called the ULD-18 that lowered distortion levels to below 1 percent. Subsequently, Hall and his team have refined and extended subwoofer performance through other patented technologies, including the dual tandem voice coil, energy recovery amplifier, digital high gain servo-control and the digital drive room bass equalization system. A long-time passion for robotics, optics and laser systems has led Hall to expand Velodyne’s product lines. In 2005, he designed the first real-time 3D LiDAR viewing system now used by Google and others for 3D mapping and other autonomous, or “self-navigating,” vehicles. Using innovative servo technology, the LiDAR 3D real-time viewing system detects data

and simultaneously produces an image and navigation guidance that has both land and marine applications. Having conquered sound and laser navigation technology, Hall targeted another area of childhood interest (boating) and a problem that often accompanied that pursuit (seasickness). In 2009, Hall unveiled the Velodyne Marine System, a feedback system based on computer-automated electronic pneumatics. Just as a car’s shocks stabilize an automobile’s ride, so Hall’s invention absorbs the pitch and yaw that sometimes makes for an unpleasant voyage. Two pontoons provide a stable and scalable structure that rely on innovative servo technology collect and process data instantaneously to adjust to the movement of a boat over the water, faster and more seamlessly than other marine stabilization systems currently on the market. Hall is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University, where he received a bachelor of science degree in engineering.

Marta Thoma Hall Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer

Since joining Velodyne, Inc. in 2011, Marta Thoma Hall has added a creative dimension not typically associated with technology companies. Hall is an award-winning public artist whose multi-story steel and glass sculptures made from recycled materials (http://www.publicartgreenart.com/) are displayed in Arizona, California, Florida and Washington, and her solo fine art exhibitions have delighted audiences around the U.S. At Velodyne, Hall oversees the design and development of new products, including a fast-growing line of sleek, lightweight Velodyne-branded over-ear, on-ear and in-ear headphones and accessories that enable users to customize their headphones with colorful, high-fashion skins designed by Hall and other recognized artists, including Lucas de Alcantara, Francesco Orazzini and Abel Del Rio. At the same time, Hall is transforming the way headphones look and sound with the vPulse, in-ear; vLeve on-ear; vFree on-ear

Bluetooth and vBold over-ear Bluetooth; vTrue forged aluminum studio and new vQuiet over-ear noise canceling headphones, which appeal to everyone from casual music lovers to the most discerning audiophiles who recognize Velodyne as a leader in audio subwoofer technology. A native of Lincoln, Neb., Thoma Hall graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts.

Mike Jellen President & COO

Michael Jellen, a seasoned industrial automation executive, brings extensive global and domain experience to Velodyne. Jellen is responsible for day-to-day management of Velodyne, with an emphasis on Velodyne LiDAR, enabling founder and CEO David Hall to focus on new products, next generation innovations and technical consulting. Jellen served most recently as Vice President of Adept Technology, Pleasanton, Calif., a leader in robotics and vision technology. Prior to Adept, Jellen worked 10 years with Danaher Corporation in successive roles of increasing responsibility, including Vice President & General Manager, Vehicle Systems Business in Stockholm, Sweden. As GM, Jellen oversaw a $100 million business with sales, marketing, R&D and operations in the U.S., the European Union and China. Earlier posts within Danaher included Vice President, Asia; Vice President, Strategic

Accounts and Controls; and General Manager, Technology Business.

Prior to Danaher, Jellen served as Director of Sales at Motion Engineering Inc., Santa Barbara, California. He began his career at Seagate Technology in Silicon Valley, where he worked in software development of robotic systems, among other positions. Jellen earned a BSEE in electrical engineering from Marquette University and an MBA from Boston University.

Pieter Kerstens Vice President, Engineering

Pieter Kerstens joined Velodyne LiDAR from Headway Technologies, Inc., Milpitas, Calif., a $250 million hard disk drive component manufacturer unit of TDK. At Headway, he led the 24/7 manufacturing of leading-edge recording head wafers used by all major global hard disk drive companies, overseeing some 300 operators and supervisors. Prior to Headway, Kerstens served four years as VP of Engineering and SVP of Technology Development, for Xicato, Inc., San Jose, Calif., facilitating this solid state lighting startup to grow into a $30 million business by leading the development of LED modules, with industry-leading quality of light, integrated drivers and color tuning manufacturing processes. Kerstens previously served as senior director of engineering for EUV lithography light sources at Cymer Inc. (now ASML), San Diego, Calif., then a $500 million global semiconductor equipment manufacturer. At Hitachi GST, San Jose, a $5 billion global hard disk drive company, he worked in senior development and manufacturing engineering management positions with successively increasing levels of responsibility. For IBM in San Jose, Boca Raton, Fla. and East Fishkill, N.Y., Kerstens served in mid-level operations, engineering and business development management positions. He began his career with Philips Research, in Briarcliff Manor, N.Y., constructing 3D maps from the images collected with a moving robot’s camera. He is listed as an inventor on 14 patents. Kerstens earned a B.S. and an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands, and an M.S. in Manufacturing Systems Engineering from Lehigh University.

John Eggert Senior Sales & Marketing Manager

John Eggert has more than 20 years of international experience in program management, along with sales and marketing management of products for the automotive industry, including automotive interiors and passive safety components and systems. His curiosity about the trends and technologies that will upend the automotive industry in coming decades led him to Velodyne LiDAR in 2015. Since joining Velodyne as Automotive Sales and Marketing Manager, Eggert has had the unique opportunity to witness first-hand the perception strategies of almost every traditional and new automotive OEM in the quest to achieve high-level ADAS functions and autonomy. Eggert graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology from the University of California at Berkeley and a Master’s degree in International Business from the University of South Carolina.


Frequently Asked Questions What is LiDAR?

LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is a distance-sensing technology that measures the time it takes a short light pulse to travel from the sensor to the object to be measured and back. From this measured time and the speed of light, the distance to the object can be determined with great precision.

What are the real-world applications of LiDAR?

So-called “driverless” or “autonomous” vehicles that employ LiDAR sensors have received a great deal of attention in recent years. However, LiDAR technology also is being applied to the development of other types of autonomous land, sea, air and space vehicles – as well as for other purposes. In addition to “assisted driving,” LiDAR sensors also have enabled the growth of 3D mobile mapping. Organizations such as the U.S. Department of Transportation are employing LiDAR sensors to map and manage the nation’s highway assets. For example, the State of Utah used has used LiDAR sensors developed by Velodyne, the acknowledged leader in LiDAR technology, to scan and generate a 3D model containing street conditions, bridge heights, street signs, lane markings and other critical information.

What sets Velodyne LiDAR technology apart?

Velodyne’s LiDAR sensors are unique because they use multiple (16, 32 or 64) laser and detector pairs, rotating 360°, which enable real-time, 3D data capturing at an incredible data rate of 700,000 or 1.3M XYZ data points per second. Velodyne’s HDL-32E and HDL-64E were developed for autonomous driving to detect obstacles and avoid collisions and are used by essentially every OEM car manufacturer or Tier 1 supplier in their development of self-driving vehicles.

Why isn’t stereo vision good enough for use with autonomous vehicles?

Stereo vision limited in two ways: It is forward-directional and requires a light source for illumination. Velodyne’s LiDAR sensors take data 360° and the laser

beams provide their own laser light, thus enabling measurements at day and at night. Stereo Vision also is based on calculating the third dimension from the difference in position of two cameras. At greater distances (30-40meters/ 100-120 feet), this principle is limited in its success and requires an enormous amount of computing power because the raw data itself is only 2D. Velodyne’s HDL-family of sensors measure up to 1.3M data points in a 200 meter (600 feet) diameter directly in 3D, thereby exactly determining the distance to objects without the need for calculation. With up to 20 full rotations per second, real-time analysis of obstacle detection and collision avoidance by a computer becomes feasible.

What challenges has Velodyne surmounted in developing LiDAR technology and

what challenges are you facing today?

The size and weight of the first sensors – and the cost – were among the early challenges. Velodyne’s first commercial product, the HDL-64E, weighed approximately 15kg (33 lbs). The newer HDL-32E, which has been available since 2010, weighs only about 1kg (2.2 lbs) and is orders of magnitude smaller then the HDL-64E. The 16-channel VLP-16 LiDAR Puck, introduced in 2014 and first deployed in early 2015, is smaller still, vastly more cost-effective and developed with mass production in mind. At the same time, it retains the key features of Velodyne’s breakthroughs in LiDAR: “Real-time, 360°, 3D distance and calibrated reflectivity measurements.”

VLP-16 specifications include a range of more than 100 meters, with a target range of 150-200 meters. The unit’s low power consumption (<10W), light weight (about 600 grams), compact footprint (Ø100mm x 65mm), and dual return option make it ideal for UAVs. Velodyne’s LiDAR Puck supports 16 channels, ~300,000 points/sec, a 360° horizontal field of view and a 30° vertical field of view, with ±15° up and down. As for cost, the first LiDAR sensors cost nearly as much as the car on which they were mounted. With the second generation product, cost was reduced by about 50 percent, while the vertical field of view increased from 26° to 40° and new capabilities, like Calibrated Reflectivities and WebServer GUI configuration control, became standard features. The third generation VLP-16 established an aggressive new price point and footprint for the industry, and the trend toward smaller/lighter/more affordable is continuing: this past summer, Velodyne announced that it is scaling up for high-volume manufacturing of sensors for automotive applications, including self-driving cars.

LiDAR Sensors

32-channel Solid-State Hybrid Ultra Puck™ Auto

16-channel VLP-16 LiDAR Puck

32-channel HDL-32E

64-channel HDL-64E

Velodyne LiDAR family of multi-channel 3D real-time sensors

Velodyne VLP-16 LiDAR Puck

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GkMuFCnvEohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKUrARIkSrY&start=2830&end=4208&version=3sUSB Expo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKbVLP-16 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQpwVCNAmpESLAM Movie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0fW3Uh_kGAVelodyne

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q__szYl9ags(VLP16) http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=driving cars

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwX7HTFHB8wBordeaux (FR) : Street views https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eurbzbp8VdYVehicle: 1st Automaker to Test Autonomous Vehicle at Mcity

Velodyne HDL-32E https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBgdskiWlO8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfSc_zJbGGs

TechMake Electronics®

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4CR3Kgd6js

Headwall Photonics' UAV Platform

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZWa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfUfMi19Utk

3D LiDAR sensor on UAV at ILMF 2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RspIlg5jWAM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlcYkLZYWcw

Reno 2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHRGaVc1x

A&list=PLW0ucoy9sCdhqDDXVbJYe4Jatkwr2vAn9

16 LiDAR Puck

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GkMuFCnvEo - Velodyne 16 Mapping (VLP-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKUrARIkSrY&start=2830&end=4208&version=3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKb-PVt5PBc UAV Airborne Laser Scanning with Velodyne

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQpwVCNAmpE Velodyne VLP-16 LiDAR Monterey Highway

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0fW3Uh_kGA Online Odometry and Mapping with Vision and

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q__szYl9ags Map based localization using Velodyne 16

http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000468908&play=1 The technology behind Google's self

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwX7HTFHB8w NAVYA ARMA Fleet on the open

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eurbzbp8VdY Ford Fusion Hybrid Autonomous Research Vehicle: 1st Automaker to Test Autonomous Vehicle at Mcity

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBgdskiWlO8 - Velodyne's LiDAR for autonomous driving

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfSc_zJbGGs (Spanish) - Sensor Velodyne LiDAR HDL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4CR3Kgd6js - Velodyne HDL-32E LiDAR Sensor Flies on

Headwall Photonics' UAV Platform

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZWa-g0plsI - Velodyne HDL-32E Installation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfUfMi19Utk - XactMaps flies Velodyne's lightweight HDL

3D LiDAR sensor on UAV at ILMF 2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RspIlg5jWAM - CaRINA 1 com Velodyne HDL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlcYkLZYWcw - Velodyne XactMaps Demo at UAV show in

/www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHRGaVc1x-

A&list=PLW0ucoy9sCdhqDDXVbJYe4Jatkwr2vAn9 - Object tracking with the Velodyne HDL

-16)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKUrARIkSrY&start=2830&end=4208&version=3 Velodyne at

UAV Airborne Laser Scanning with Velodyne

16 LiDAR Monterey Highway

Online Odometry and Mapping with Vision and

Map based localization using Velodyne 16

The technology behind Google's self-

NAVYA ARMA Fleet on the open-road in

Ford Fusion Hybrid Autonomous Research

Velodyne's LiDAR for autonomous driving

Sensor Velodyne LiDAR HDL-32E -

32E LiDAR Sensor Flies on

Installation

Velodyne's lightweight HDL-32E

CaRINA 1 com Velodyne HDL-32E

Velodyne XactMaps Demo at UAV show in

Object tracking with the Velodyne HDL-32E

Velodyne HDL-64E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YBE760SaFU - Velodyne LiDAR sensor system for Google’s

self-driving car

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09JjEQp9Nxk - Velodyne HDL-64E Test - Semi Urban

Environment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3IzB70gSKg - SLAM with VELODYNE HDL-64E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63kpCAoL8po - RTMaps software in use with the Velodyne

HDL-64E S2 LiDAR sensor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVVJGtCTnSs - Velodyne LiDAR: Tunnel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eSglEL14m8 - Velodyne LiDAR: Environmental Clearance

Corporate Headquarters

345 Digital Drive Morgan Hill, Calif. 95037 Office: (408) 465-2800

Velodyne Acoustics www.velodyne.com Velodyne LiDAR www.velodynelidar.com Velodyne Marine www.velodynemarine.com

2015 North American Automotive ADAS Sensors

Product Leadership Award

FROST & SULLIVAN

BEST PRACTICES RESEARCH

Contents

Background and Company Performance ........................................................................3

Industry Challenges..............................................................................................3

Product Family Attributes and Business Impact ........................................................3

Conclusion...........................................................................................................5 Significance of Product Leadership................................................................................6

Understanding Product Leadership................................................................................6

Key Benchmarking Criteria ....................................................................................7

Best Practice Award Analysis for Velodyne .....................................................................7

Decision Support Scorecard ...................................................................................7

Product Family Attributes ......................................................................................8

Business Impact...................................................................................................8

Decision Support Matrix ........................................................................................9

The Intersection between 360-Degree Research and Best Practices Awards ..................... 10

Research Methodology ........................................................................................ 10

Best Practices Recognition: 10 Steps to Researching, Identifying, and Recognizing Best Practices ................................................................................................................. 11

About Frost & Sullivan .............................................................................................. 12


Background and Company Performance

Industry Challenges All major automakers across the world feel the need to create some sort of an automated

vehicle in order to be aligned with the goals of global regulatory bodies on reducing road

fatalities. Traditionally, automakers have employed radar, ultrasonic, and vision-based

sensors to assess the driving environment and traffic to help the driver make better-

informed driving decisions. When the driver is taken out of the loop, the vehicle needs to

be more agile, availing near-human perception of the road.

Several vehicle manufacturers have already demonstrated automated vehicle prototypes

using LiDAR. Whether it is traditional OEMs or potential disruptors, such as Google, LiDAR

seems to be the preferred technology choice. By adopting a 64-channel architecture,

LiDAR systems are capable of collecting data from 360° with a capacity to capture 1.3

million data points every second. The cloud data collected is so vast and dense that

computer programs are able to identify objects like street curbs and overhead wires at

distances of over 100m. Meanwhile, on the other end of the spectrum, there are sensors

based on a 4 or 8-channel architecture, which use fewer data collection points and thus

offer little reliability and accuracy.

Unfortunately, the 64-channel architecture-based sensors that offer high-definition data

processing costs tens of thousands of dollars, so the industry is seeking a solution that

would be accurate and reliable like the 64-channel architecture sensors yet is more

affordable.

Product Family Attributes and Business Impact Criterion 1: Match to Needs

As mentioned earlier, OEMs that are interested in the autonomous vehicle concept prefer

sensors that can capture an abundance of data points, and though these sensors are

highly accurate with their data collection making them very reliable, their cost has

encumbered wide spread deployment.

To address this, Velodyne has introduced a 16-channel architecture for their LiDAR sensors.

Known as the VLP-16, this solution tracks a number of key data points and is on par with

64-channel systems in terms of its reliability and functionality yet it is much more

affordable, increasing the system's adoption potential. The VLP-16 measures 100mm in

diameter and 65mm in height and weighs about 600 grams. It was developed with the

purpose of catering to mass-market consumers, boasting essential features such as real-

time, 360°, 3D distance, and calibrated reflectivity measurements.

By meeting key market needs and concomitantly offering the best of both worlds, Frost &

Sullivan firmly believes Velodyne's solution to be the most compelling ADAS sensor in the

Automotive space today.


Criterion 2: Reliability and Quality

Most of the sensors in the market today employ an inferior 8-channel sensor architecture

using two pairs of 4-channels, which are barely sufficient to map 3D data points. This

offers a range of up to 200 meters with a 110° horizontal field of view and up to 6.4° field

of view in the vertical direction. While on the contrary, higher configuration sensors

employ multi-channel sensor architecture that uses advantages of GPS and inertial

technology to provide continuous discrete data points. Even though the data points are

accurately recorded, to an extent, the accuracy is not comparable to Velodyne’s system.

The VLP-16, also known as "the Puck", boasts a range of up to 100 meters, capturing

close to 300,000 data points every second. It offers a 360° horizontal field of view and up

to 30° vertical field of view with ± 15° data capture in both directions. Later versions are

expected to have more sensitive mode of operation that allows for a range of 150 to 200

meters. The captured data points can be analyzed using state-of-the-art computing

algorithm to differentiate between objects such as a car, bicycle, and pedestrian, offering

well-rounded data points that are more than sufficient to make an informed decision.

Finally, the VLP-16 is designed such that the rotating parts are enclosed in the casing,

thereby allowing for a better fit in several configurations within the vehicle, which makes

the solution ideal for OEMs' needs.

Criterion 3: Customer Acquisition

Today's vehicles employ a number of different sensors including Ultra-sonic sensors and

radar. Market trends have driven sensor manufacturers to charge a premium price for

their different sensors, yet Frost & Sullivan's analysis shows that this premium pricing is

turning OEMs off. As vehicles become more and more autonomous, companies that can

bridge the gap between cost and quality will become the industry's 'preferred vendors' .

Despite the current market being in a nascent stage, 9 out of 10 OEMs use a Velodyne

sensor, giving clear evidence of the company's excellent reputation in the industry .

Frost & Sullivan feels that Velodyne has developed the right product at the right price,

giving them a critical competitive advantage in the market.

Criterion 4: Growth Potential

The VLP-16 offers tremendous growth potential in the future with sales expected to cross

several thousands of units when autonomous vehicles become a norm in the industry.

LiDAR systems used in demonstrator vehicles cost between $75,000 and $85,000; in

contrary, Velodyne's VLP-16 is roughly $8,000, one-tenth the cost of premium priced LiDAR

systems. Currently, Velodyne has sold several hundred units, which Frost & Sullivan

considers a highly successful venture thus far because the autonomous vehicles market is

in a nascent stage.


Conclusion To be a product leader, companies must introduce innovative and highly effective

solutions that address key industry challenges. Frost & Sullivan is convinced that Velodyne

has accomplished this with its VLP-16 sensor system. By amalgamating best-in-class

quality, superior functionality, unrivaled reliability, and affordability, Velodyne has truly

engineered a 'best of both worlds' offering. Because of its strong performance, Frost &

Sullivan recognizes Velodyne with the 2015 Product Leadership Award.


Significance of Product Leadership Ultimately, growth in any organization depends upon customers purchasing from your

company, and then making the decision to return time and again. A comprehensive

product line, filled with high-quality, value-driven options, is the key to building an

engaged customer base. To achieve and maintain product excellence, an organization

must strive to be best-in-class in three key areas: understanding demand, nurturing the

brand, and differentiating from the competition. This three-fold approach to delivering

Product Leadership is explored further below.

Understanding Product Leadership

Demand forecasting, branding, and differentiation all play a critical role in finding growth

opportunities for your product line. This three-fold focus, however, must be complemented

by an equally rigorous focus on pursuing those opportunities to a best -in-class standard.

Customer communications, customer feedback, pricing, and competitor actions must all be

managed and monitored for ongoing success. If an organization can successfully parlay

product excellence into positive business impact, increased market share will inevitably

follow over time.


Key Benchmarking Criteria

For the Product Leadership Award, we evaluated two key factors—Product Family

Attributes and Business Impact—according to the criteria identified below.

Product Family Attributes

Criterion 1: Match to Needs


Criterion 3: Product/Service Value

Criterion 4: Positioning

Criterion 5: Design

Business Impact

Criterion 1: Financial Performance


Criterion 3: Operational Efficiency


Criterion 5: Human Capital

Best Practice Award Analysis for VELODYNE

Decision Support Scorecard

To support its evaluation of best practices across multiple business performance categories,

Frost & Sullivan employs a customized Decision Support Scorecard. This tool allows our

research and consulting teams to objectively analyze performance , according to the key

benchmarking criteria listed in the previous section, and to assign ratings on that basis.

The tool follows a 10-point scale that allows for nuances in performance evaluation; ratings

guidelines are illustrated below.

RATINGS GUIDELINES

The Decision Support Scorecard is organized by Product Family Attributes and Business

Impact (i.e., the overarching categories for all 10 benchmarking criteria; the definitions

for each criteria are provided beneath the scorecard). The research team confirms the

veracity of this weighted scorecard through sensitivity analysis, which confirms that small

changes to the ratings for a specific criterion do not lead to a significant change in the

overall relative rankings of the companies.


The results of this analysis are shown below. To remain unbiased and to protect the

interests of all organizations reviewed, we have chosen to refer to the other key players in

as Competitor 2 and Competitor 3.

Measurement of 1–10 (1 = poor; 10 = excellent)

Product Leadership Product Family Attributes

Business Impact

Average Rating

Velodyne 8 9 9

Competitor 2 6 7 7

Competitor 3 8 7 8


Criterion 1: Match to Needs

Requirement: Customer needs directly influence and inspire the design and positioning of

the product family


Requirement: Products consistently meet or exceed customer expectations for

performance and length of service

Criterion 3: Product/Service Value

Requirement: Products or services offer the best value for the price, compared to similar

offerings in the market

Criterion 4: Positioning

Requirement: Products or services unique, unmet need that competitors cannot easily

replicate or replace

Criterion 5: Design

Requirement: The product features an innovative design, enhancing both visual appeal

and ease of use

Business Impact

Criterion 1: Financial Performance

Requirement: Strong overall financial performance in terms of revenues, revenue growth,

operating margin and other key financial metrics


Requirement: Product strength enables acquisition of new customers, even as it enhances

retention of current customers

Criterion 3: Operational Efficiency

Requirement: Staff is able to perform assigned tasks productively, quickly, and to a high

quality standard


Velodyne

Competitor 2 Competitor 3

Bu

sin

ess I

mp

act


Requirements: Product quality strengthens brand, reinforces customer loyalty and

enhances growth potential

Criterion 5: Human Capital

Requirement: Company culture is characterized by a strong commitment to product

quality and customer impact, which in turn enhances employee morale and retention

Decision Support Matrix

Once all companies have been evaluated according to the Decision Support Scorecard,

analysts can then position the candidates on the matrix shown below, enabling them to

visualize which companies are truly breakthrough and which ones are not yet operating at

best-in-class levels.

High

Low

Low


High


The Intersection between 360-Degree Research and Best

Practices Awards

Research Methodology

Frost & Sullivan’s 360-degree research

methodology represents the analytical

rigor of our research process. It offers a

360-degree-view of industry challenges,

trends, and issues by integrating all 7 of

Frost & Sullivan's research methodologies.

Too often, companies make important

growth decisions based on a narrow

understanding of their environment,

leading to errors of both omission and

commission. Successful growth strategies

are founded on a thorough understanding

of market, technical, economic, financial,

customer, best practices, and demographic

analyses. The integration of these research

disciplines into the 360-degree research

methodology provides an evaluation

360-DEGREE RESEARCH: SEEING ORDER IN THE CHAOS

platform for benchmarking industry players and for identifying those performing at best-

in-class levels.


OBJECTIVE KEY ACTIVITIES OUTPUT

Monitor,

1 target, and screen

Identify award recipient

candidates from around the globe

• Conduct in-depth industry

research • Identify emerging sectors • Scan multiple geographies

Pipeline of candidates who

potentially meet all best-practice

criteria

Perform

2 360-degree

research

Perform comprehensive, 360- degree research on all candidates

in the pipeline

• Interview thought leaders and industry practitioners

• Assess candidates’ fit with best-

practice criteria

• Rank all candidates

Matrix positioning all candidates’ performance relative to one

another

Invite

thought 3 leadership in

best practices

Perform in-depth examination of all candidates

• Confirm best-practice criteria

• Examine eligibility of all candidates

• Identify any information gaps

Detailed profiles of all ranked candidates

Initiate

4 research

director

review

Conduct an unbiased evaluation of all candidate profiles

• Brainstorm ranking options • Invite multiple perspectives on

candidates’ performance

• Update candidate profiles

Final prioritization of all eligible candidates and companion best-

practice positioning paper

Assemble

5 panel of

industry

experts

Present findings to an expert panel of industry thought leaders

• Share findings

• Strengthen cases for candidate eligibility

• Prioritize candidates

Refined list of prioritized award candidates

Conduct

6 global

industry review

Build consensus on award candidates’ eligibility

• Hold global team meeting to

review all candidates • Pressure-test fit with criteria

• Confirm inclusion of all eligible candidates

Final list of eligible award candidates, representing success

stories worldwide

7 Perform

quality check

Develop official award consideration materials

• Perform final performance

benchmarking activities • Write nominations

• Perform quality review

High-quality, accurate, and creative presentation of

nominees’ successes

Reconnect

8 with panel of

industry

experts

Finalize the selection of the best-

practice award recipient

• Review analysis with panel • Build consensus

• Select winner

Decision on which company

performs best against all best-

practice criteria

9 Communicate

recognition

Inform award recipient of award

recognition

• Present award to the CEO

• Inspire the organization for

continued success • Celebrate the recipient’s

performance

Announcement of award and

plan for how recipient can use the award to enhance the brand

Take 10 strategic

action

The award recipient may license

the award for use in external

communication and outreach to

stakeholders and customers

• Coordinate media outreach • Design a marketing plan • Assess award’s role in future

strategic planning

Widespread awareness of

recipient’s award status among

investors, media personnel, and

employees

Best Practices Recognition: 10 Steps to Researching, Identifying, and Recognizing Best Practices

Frost & Sullivan Awards follow a 10-step process to evaluate Award candidates and assess

their fit to best practice criteria. The reputation and integrity of the Awards are based on

close adherence to this process.

STEP


About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, enables clients to accelerate growth

and achieve best in class positions in growth, innovation and leadership. The company's

Growth Partnership Service provides the CEO and the CEO's Growth Team with

disciplined research and best practice models to drive the generation, evaluation and

implementation of powerful growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan leverages almost 50

years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and

the investment community from 31 offices on six continents. To join our Growth

Partnership, pl ease visit http://www.frost.com.

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