LG Innotek Develops High-Performance LiDAR... "Targeting ADAS Sensing Market"

Overcoming Technical Limits by Applying Short-Wavelength Infrared

LG Innotek has launched an offensive in the sensing market for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) by leveraging its high-performance LiDAR product lineup and business capabilities.

An LG Innotek employee is introducing a key sensing component for ADAS, the 'high-performance LiDAR.' /
[Photo by LG Innotek]

On the 7th, LG Innotek announced that it has developed a 'high-performance LiDAR' that triples the detection distance in adverse weather conditions such as snow and fog compared to existing products.

LiDAR is a sensing component that measures the time it takes for infrared light to bounce back after being emitted onto an object, detecting the object's three-dimensional shape and distance. It helps measure not only the 3D spatial information of objects but also the distance from the vehicle to the object. It can identify situations that cameras and radars cannot detect, making it the highest-performing sensing component for vehicles. As autonomous driving technology advances, the number of LiDAR units required in vehicles is increasing, making it a key component for ADAS.

Overcoming Existing LiDAR Limitations with Short-Wavelength Infrared

LG Innotek has independently solved the limitation of reduced LiDAR detection distance caused by light scattering in adverse weather conditions such as snow and fog. Instead of using near-infrared light traditionally employed in LiDAR, the new product applies short-wavelength infrared light, which has a longer wavelength and is less affected by light scattering.

The high-performance LiDAR introduced by the company can detect objects up to 250 meters away. Its detection performance in adverse weather conditions is three times better than existing products, making it the industry’s top level.

With an increased detection distance, braking distance can be secured accordingly, allowing for faster driving speeds. In fog with a visibility of 2 meters, autonomous vehicles equipped with existing products can drive at speeds of 50 km/h, whereas those equipped with LG Innotek’s new product can drive at speeds up to 90 km/h.

Additionally, LG Innotek’s high-performance LiDAR can clearly detect pedestrians wearing black clothes or obstacles with low reflectivity such as tires. It can uniformly deliver high resolution from all viewing angles, not just specific angles, and the data collected through the sensor is up to ten times greater than before.

Various Customer-Customized Lineups... Also Acquired Argo Patents

Since 2015, LG Innotek has continuously secured core capabilities for the LiDAR business and completed all preparations necessary for market penetration. The company actually has a diverse product lineup capable of customized supply for customers. These include 'short-range fixed LiDAR' optimized for urban driving with many obstacles and 'mid-range fixed LiDAR' for general road driving.

The company also holds various patents related to LiDAR. Last year, LG Innotek acquired 77 U.S. patents related to LiDAR from Argo AI, an autonomous driving startup specialized in LiDAR. Currently, the company holds about 300 patents related to LiDAR, possessing a broad patent portfolio covering substrates, optics, mechanics, and other fields.

Going forward, LG Innotek plans to actively target the market by leveraging its accumulated optical design and engineering capabilities, as well as precision assembly technology, as the global No. 1 company in the smartphone camera module market.

LG Innotek is conducting promotions targeting global autonomous driving companies and is also progressing with mass production of various products. The company plans to supply short-range and mid-range fixed LiDAR to domestic and North American customers in the second half of the year. Discussions with customers are underway to mass-produce high-performance rotating LiDAR by 2026.

Moon Hyuk-soo, CEO of LG Innotek, said, "We will expand the No. 1 DNA accumulated in smartphone camera modules to vehicle sensing solutions to create differentiated customer value," adding, "We will grow the ADAS sensing solution business, led by camera modules, LiDAR, and radar, into the global No. 1."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.