Summary: MicroVision’s Tri-Lidar system combines two short-range sensors (Movia S) and one long-range sensor (Mavin), offering a compact design that enhances performance while lowering power consumption. The short-range sensors effective range is 30-50 meters, and the long-range sensor reaches up to 220 meters, ideal for automotive applications. The company aims to introduce a $300 long-range sensor by 2028, with further reductions expected. While currently lacking passenger vehicle OEM customers, MicroVision anticipates entering the OEM market within 18 months. It also plans to adapt lidar technology for Class 8 trucks, targeting a product release for these vehicles around 2029.
MicroVision’s Tri-Lidar system would use two of its solid-state short-range sensors (Movia S) and one of its mechanical long-range sensors (Mavin).
Tri-Lidar helps lead to a “smaller package, lower power, and a much better rich point cloud from the system, as opposed to having one single sensor do it all,” De Vots said. “It can easily package in the vehicle—not on the roof, but rather behind the windscreen or in the grill, which is where sensors really want to be at the end of the day.”
The short-range system’s effective range is roughly 30 to 50 meters, depending on field of view, and the long-range system’s effective range is roughly 220 meters.
“Those are ranges which are, we think, in the sweet spot for automotive applications,” De Vots said.
Lower costs
The company plans for a $300 long-range passenger vehicle sensor by 2028, with further cost reductions down the line.
“These are charted to be $200 or less in the corners, $300 for long range,” De Vots said. “That’s this next generation. Our road brings that [cost] further down.”
MicroVision has no passenger vehicle OEM customers to reach that economy of scale today. De Vots said the company expects OEM business within a year and a half.
Adapting lidar for Class 8 trucks: Longer range and higher safety demands
The company hopes to develop its lidar solutions for commercial vehicles as well, though the timeline is less clear. A truck hauling 80,000 lb. would need significantly greater perception range than a passenger vehicle to operate safely.
“The short-range sensor, which we would envision more near-field around the vehicle, or even around the trailer, is exactly the same as what we would plan for auto,” De Vots said. “For the long-range, it’s a little bit of a different answer, as requirements typically tend to be a little longer in terms of range. Instead of 220 [meters], you may be at 250 or even 300 and, with that, power levels would change.”
The company would need to redesign its long-range lidar solutions for the field, which may make the tech more expensive.
MicroVision is planning its first wave of products for passenger vehicles in 2028. If all goes well, it could begin producing sensors for commercial vehicles 18 months later.
“If we had a commercial vehicle person come to me today and say, ‘Hey I need it by 2028,’ we could always re-prioritize, but that’s our baseline plan as of right now,” he said. “Given the timelines of automation for commercial vehicles, we don’t think we’ll miss the market for that.”