Voyant Photonics unveiling CARBON LiDAR on a Chip at CES 2025

Voyant Photonics unveiling CARBON LiDAR on a Chip at CES 2025

LiDAR technology has been a cornerstone of innovation in industries like robotics, autonomous vehicles, and security. At CES 2025, Voyant Photonics will unveil a game-changing product: CARBON LiDAR on a chip, a compact and cost-effective Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) LiDAR sensor.

This “LiDAR on a chip” promises to revolutionise machine perception with its ground-breaking features, including millimetre precision, long-range detection, and weather resilience—all at an affordable price point of $1,490 per unit.

Compact Yet Mighty LiDAR-on-a-Chip

The CARBON sensor’s secret lies in its photonic integrated circuit (PIC) technology, enabling a level of performance that was previously unimaginable at such a price. The chip, roughly the size of a fingernail, combines high-resolution optics and cutting-edge solid-state beam steering. By doing so, it provides precise object detection, segmentation, and real-time environmental mapping for a range of applications, including robotics, industrial automation, and security systems.

“We’ve integrated optics into a LiDAR photonic integrated circuit to create a product that’s compact, powerful, and accessible to industries of all sizes,” a Voyant representative shared.

Why FMCW LiDAR Stands Out

CARBON leverages FMCW technology, which surpasses traditional Time of Flight (ToF) LiDAR in several critical ways:

• Velocity Measurement: FMCW LiDAR captures instant velocity data for each point in the point cloud, alongside distance and intensity measurements. This “4D” capability provides unparalleled accuracy and real-time situational awareness.

• GPS-Denied Operations: By offering precise velocity readings, CARBON facilitates ego-positioning, eliminating the need for high-end inertial measurement units (IMUs) in environments where GPS signals are unreliable.

This innovation makes CARBON particularly valuable in applications like drone navigation, autonomous vehicle control, and high-speed robotics.

Built for Any Environment

LiDAR sensors often face challenges from adverse weather conditions and reflective surfaces, but CARBON is designed to overcome these obstacles effortlessly:

• Weather Resilience: Whether it’s dust, fog, rain, or snow, CARBON remains operational, maintaining visibility where other sensors fail.

• Retroreflector Immunity: Unlike traditional ToF LiDAR, CARBON isn’t blinded by highly reflective surfaces like street signs or safety vests, ensuring consistent performance in urban and industrial settings.

Compact and durable, the sensor weighs just 250 grams and boasts an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance, as well as robust shock and vibration endurance. Additionally, its low-power FMCW lasers are eye-safe, making it ideal for public-facing applications.

Unprecedented Resolution and Range

At the heart of CARBON’s capabilities is its high-resolution imaging and customisable software:

• Native Resolution: The sensor delivers a resolution of 128 lines per frame, providing camera-level detail.

• Long Range: CARBON detects objects at distances of up to 200 metres, with velocity measurements up to 63 m/s (140 mph).

• Wide Field of View: With a 45° vertical and 90° horizontal range, it captures a broad scene, making it suitable for dynamic environments.

• Software-Defined LiDAR (SDL): Users can tweak the frame rate and field of view on the fly, focusing on specific zones of interest to enhance detection and classification accuracy.

This flexibility ensures CARBON can adapt to varied operational demands, from factory automation to autonomous vehicle navigation.

Affordable and Accessible

Priced at just $1,490 per unit, CARBON is poised to disrupt the LiDAR market, making advanced perception technology accessible to smaller businesses and start-ups. Volume pricing and a two-year warranty further sweeten the deal.

Voyant Photonics

Based in New York City, Voyant Photonics has been at the forefront of LiDAR innovation since its founding in 2018 by Cornell and Columbia University researchers. Backed by over $20 million in funding, the company focuses on creating scalable, cost-effective sensing solutions using patented nano-optic technologies.

From autonomous vehicles to drones and factory automation, Voyant’s products are designed to meet the demands of modern industrial applications.

Meet Voyant at CES 2025

Voyant Photonics will demonstrate CARBON at CES 2025 in the West Hall’s Advanced Mobility section (booth #3175). Attendees can witness its capabilities first-hand and learn how this compact sensor is set to reshape industries reliant on 3D sensing.

A Visionary Leap for LiDAR

With CARBON, Voyant Photonics has achieved what many considered impossible: combining performance, affordability, and adaptability in a single sensor. Whether it’s enhancing autonomous vehicles or improving industrial efficiency, this LiDAR-on-a-chip is a testament to the power of innovation.

As industries continue to demand smarter, more efficient solutions, CARBON offers a glimpse into a future where technology doesn’t just meet expectations—it redefines them.