Valeo readies a new generation of lidar for '24 launch

LAS VEGAS — Valeo unveiled a third-generation, long-range scanning lidar during last week's CES that can "detect objects invisible to the human eye, cameras and radar" at distances of more than 650 feet. It also can enable self-driving at speeds of up to 80 mph.

The French supplier said the technology will appear on the market in 2024.

The company also debuted a near-field lidar system it says will create a 360-degree view of nearby objects and hazards, including those concealed by the vehicle's blind spots.

"It creates a safety cocoon for driverless cars such as robotaxis, shuttles and droids," Christophe Perillat, Valeo deputy CEO, said during a virtual press conference at CES, where the company also showed off a new infotainment display, a 37-pound electric motorcycle and a new COVID-19 detection system developed using the same technology as driver-monitoring systems in vehicles.

Valeo has invested heavily in its lidar offerings in recent years as automakers look to use the technology, along with radar and cameras, to enable autonomous driving and advanced safety systems. The company is one of the industry's largest suppliers of lidar, which scans the road ahead with laser pulses to create a detailed image map for self-driving and advanced driver-assistance systems.

Perillat said the two new systems will help to make "autonomous mobility a reality" in the coming years.

"The third generation of lidar is a much-improved product," he said, referring to the long-range scanning lidar.

Valeo said its COVID-19 "detection terminal" can provide a "first diagnosis in under two minutes without any patient contact, as accurately as a PCR test." The technology was developed using many of the same sensors that ensure drivers are in control of a vehicle.

In a news release, Valeo said clinical trials of the terminal are "planned in various medical research organizations" in Belgium, Egypt, France, India, Morocco, Thailand and Tunisia. The company said it will also offer a "miniaturized solution" that can monitor a patient's vitals without any contact.

Valeo ranks No. 10 on the Automotive News list of top 100 global suppliers, with worldwide parts sales to automakers of $16.95 billion in 2020.