SiLC's Vision Sensor Achieves Record Long-range Detection

Silicon photonics company SiLC Technologies demonstrated its Eyeonic Vision Sensor to perceive, identify, and avoid objects at a range of more than 1 km. SiLC demonstrated a detection range of more than 500 m earlier this year, and now claims to be the first company to achieve a range exceeding 1 km.

Ultralong-range visibility is a requirement in many industries that use machine vision, including automotive, metrology, construction, drones, and more. Specific scenarios include providing enough time for a vehicle to evade an obstacle at highway speeds, enabling a drone to avoid others in the sky, and controlling deforestation by making precision mapping and surveying of forests possible.

According to Mehdi Asghari, SiLC’s CEO and founder, the information that the sensor provides helps robots classify and predict their environment in the same way that the human eye and brain process together.

Announced in December 2021, SiLC’s Eyeonic Vision Sensor is powered by a silicon photonic incorporating frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) lidar capabilities into a single chip. The chip, according to SiLC , is the only readily integrable solution for manufacturers building next-generation autonomous vehicles, security solutions, and industrial robots.

SiLC’s 1-km demonstration follows the announcement of new partnerships with AutoX, Varroc, and Hokuyo.