WiMi Hologram Cloud develops five chips for 3D holographic LiDAR
Beijing, China – WiMi Hologram Cloud Inc., a global hologram augmented reality technology provider, announced that five chips have been designed and developed based on 3D holographic LiDAR. These chips are designed with a Bi-MOS structure, a new process technology that integrates BJT and MOS devices on the same chip, combining both advantages on the same substrate. This is also a new design idea based on the high speed, performance, and accuracy required for information processing, communication, and network circuits.
In Bi-MOS structure, bipolar devices have driving capability, high analog accuracy, and speed, but high power consumption and low integration, which cannot realise super large-scale integrated circuits. In contrast, MOS devices have weak driving capability and low speed but low power consumption, high integration, and interference immunity. In the 3D holographic LiDAR applications, the above two devices cannot meet alone because of the large amount of information, the need for accuracy, anti-interference, and large-scale data integration processing.
The Bi-MOS structure is an effective solution in high-performance digital and analog integrated circuits. 3D holographic LiDAR chip design requires a reliable technology route for high speed, high integration, and high-performance ultra-large scale integrated circuits.
The five chips designed by WiMi are coherent 3D holographic LiDAR diffuse target detection chip, tunable 3D holographic LiDAR chip, 3D holographic LiDAR-based SLAM and fusion localisation chip, In-vehicle 3D holographic LiDAR-based road cross-section measurement chip, and 3D holographic LiDAR light source phase noise compensation chip for FMCW. These will be used in engineering, construction, consumer products, and autopilot industries.
In consumer electronics, WiMi’s 3D holographic LiDAR can be integrated into camera arrays for holographic spatial scan presentation or high-precision scanning of objects to achieve AR applications. The current AR scanning technology combined with consumer electronics must be more mature. There is no professional chip to process it, so only relatively fuzzy and distorted digital imaging can be generated.
However, this has generated a lot of interest in developing technologies, such as entertainment, tools, or engineering-assisted applications that do not require high-precision data. If integrated with a high-precision professional 3D holographic LiDAR chip, it will play a key role in forming high-precision restored digital images, and the fields that can be applied will be expanded.
3D holographic LiDAR can also be applied with HD camera systems and other sensors. For example, ultra-high precision holographic 3D spatial images can be obtained with UAV mapping and satellite remote sensing technology. This can be applied in professional mapping and related commercial applications, improving the accuracy of LiDAR and realising high-precision detection in space.
3D holographic LiDAR will replace traditional LiDAR technology in autonomous driving. In recent years, standard LiDAR technology has been widely used in autonomous driving (such as adaptive cruise control). It can accurately map position and distance. Speed-sensing pulse laser and the solid-state beam can measure distance and give real-time feedback to the car control system. But these gadgets can only reach Level 1 or 2 in autonomous driving. Under the brilliant requirements of autonomous driving technology, more techniques such as information acquisition feedback and intelligent control intervention are needed. Higher standards are also put forward for LiDAR systems.
WiMi’s 3D holographic LiDAR chip is designed and developed entirely based on industry requirements. 3D holographic LiDAR technology uses a laser beam to measure 3D holographic point locations in the surrounding space relative to the sensor for scanning feedback. Tens of thousands of laser pulses per second can be emitted, and 3D holographic spatial data can be efficiently fed back to the vehicle’s autonomous driving system, allowing the car to react to road conditions, surrounding vehicles, pedestrians, and other obstacles.
For example, the 3D Holographic LiDAR light source phase noise compensation chip for FMCW allows vital sign detection. The chip combines FMCW with 3D holographic LiDAR technology. FMCW can send a time-varying linear waveform that detects breathing through the chest or abdominal undulations. The thoracic undulation can be treated as a moving target, where inspiration corresponds to motion toward the LiDAR signal and breathing corresponds to moving away from the LiDAR signal.
The trajectory of the respiratory movement can be obtained by decoherence with considerable accuracy. This allows us to prioritise avoiding objects with vital signs in emergencies. Conventional LiDAR can only determine the attributes of object types through object appearance recognition, such as dummies and real people on the roadside, and cannot make clear distinctions and determinations. Therefore, applying this chip will effectively improve the safety of autonomous driving.
3D holographic LiDAR can provide higher accuracy/resolution information for autonomous driving systems. Compared to high-precision camera-assisted LiDAR systems, 3D holographic LiDAR can provide longer detection distances when weather conditions are poor, giving autonomous driving an earlier prognosis and adjustment to react accordingly. When combining 3D holographic LiDAR data with positioning information, it is possible to map the vehicle’s surroundings fully.
3D holographic LiDAR can obtain accurate distance and intensity information from the surrounding environment. Applying 3D holographic LiDAR-based SLAM and fusion localisation chip to high-precision map construction and map-based matching positioning can effectively enhance the control effectiveness and stability of satellite positioning in weak signal areas, improve information accuracy and precision to enhance the safety and stability of autonomous driving. LiDAR is already the primary auxiliary sensor for Level 3 autonomous driving technology, and it is believed that the richer spatial and environmental information provided by 3D holographic LiDAR will become the necessary primary sensor in Level 4 and 5 autonomous driving.
What can be confirmed is that holographic technology will provide more highly sophisticated applications in the future. WiMi starts from 3D holographic LiDAR technology and empowers various industry sectors. The technology has a wide range of applications and landing prospects. Holographic technology is booming, and its application is developing in the direction of depth, gradually penetrating many fields.
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