AMD’s adaptive computing technology is powering Denso’s next-generation lidar platform to deliver a more-than-twentyfold improvement in resolution with extremely low latency, for increased precision in detecting pedestrians, vehicles, free space and more—and to enable ISO 26262 ASIL-B certification.
Denso’s SPAD (single-photon avalanche diode) lidar system, powered by AMD’s XA Zynq UltraScale+ multi-processor system-on-a-chip (MPSoC) platform, is slated to begin shipping in 2025. AMD say it generates the highest point-cloud density level of any lidar system on the market today, and enables smaller packaging for Denso’s lidar systems, in turn allowing multiple lidars to work in tandem for forward view and side views of a vehicle. One device can be used for multiple Denso lidar systems, including future generations, which drives down system costs and helps designs to be future-ready.
Eiichi Kurokawa, head of Denso’s sensing system business unit, says his company “are excited to expand our collaboration with AMD as we introduce our next-generation lidar system. AMD high-performance, highly scalable, programmable silicon offers distinct benefits for the extremely complex image processing requirements of our lidar sensor architecture. The flexibility and capabilities of the Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC platform and its ability to meet stringent functional safety requirements led us to work with AMD”.
And AMD SVP and general manager of the core markets group Mark Wadlington said, “Denso has developed an exceptionally precise lidar system. With lidar continuing to evolve, there are new technology requirements, driving the need for improvements in sensitivity, density and performance. Through AMD adaptive computing technology, we’re helping to enable a reduction in system size and space, while also improving resolution for increased precision in object detection, all at very low latency”.
DVN comment
Component suppliers like AMD; Infineon; Intel; NXP, and Texas Instruments are proposing radar-on-chip structures wherein ultra-high frequency stages (LNA; mixers, VCOs) coexist on the same chip as digital signal processing structures. This mono-chip integration is possible because radar’s architectures are more and more standardised; their specificities come only from antennas. We foresee lidars proceeding along similar evolutionary lines.
