The Robot Report

  • Research
  • Technologies
    • Batteries / Power Supplies
    • Cameras / Imaging / Vision
    • Controllers
    • Grippers / End Effectors
    • Microprocessors / SoCs
    • Motion Control
    • Sensors / Sensing Systems
    • Soft Robotics
    • Software / Simulation
  • Development
    • A.I. / Cognition
    • Human Robot Interaction / Haptics
    • Mobility / Navigation
  • Robots
    • AGVs
    • AMRs
    • Consumer
    • Collaborative Robots
    • Drones
    • Exoskeletons
    • Self-Driving Vehicles
    • Unmanned Maritime Systems
  • Markets
    • Agriculture
    • Defense / Security
    • Healthcare
    • Logistics
    • Manufacturing
    • Mining
  • Investments
  • Resources
    • COVID-19
    • Digital Issues
    • Publications
      • Collaborative Robotics Trends
      • Robotics Business Review
    • RBR50
    • Search Robotics Database
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • Events
    • RoboBusiness Direct
    • Robotics Summit & Expo
    • Healthcare Robotics Engineering Forum
    • DeviceTalks
    • R&D 100
  • Podcast

Self-driving car startup Aurora acquires Blackmore for Doppler lidar tech

By Eugene Demaitre | May 25, 2019

Self-driving car startup Aurora acquires Blackmore for Doppler lidar tech

Source: Aurora Innovation

Palo Alto, Calif.-based Aurora Innovation Inc. this week said that it is buying Bozeman, Mont.-based Blackmore Sensors and Analytics Inc. It did not disclose the financial terms of the acquisition.

Aurora‘s three co-founders have previous experience in developing autonomous vehicles. CEO Chris Urmson previously led Google LLC’s self-driving efforts and departed before Alphabet Inc. spun off Waymo LLC. Chief Product Officer Sterling Anderson came out of Tesla Inc., and Chief Technical Officer Drew Bagnell has worked with the Carnegie Mellon University Robotics Institute and Uber Technologies Inc.

Two-year-old Blackmore said it is a leader in developing compact, robust, and cost-efficient lidar, as well as supporting analytic tools and software. It said its sensors can measure radial velocity on every data point, effectively Doppler lidar.

In February, Aurora raised $530 million in a Series B round led by Sequoia Capital, with participation from Amazon.com Inc. In March 2018, Blackmore raised $18 million in Series B funding led by BMW i Ventures and including Toyota AI Ventures.

Blackmore said its 70 staffers will remain in Montana.

Note: Kyle Vogt, CEO of self-driving car company Cruise, will deliver a keynote at the Robotics Summit & Expo, which will be in Boston on June 5-6. Register now to attend.

Lidar debate

Unlike Tesla Inc. founder Elon Musk, who has said, “Lidar is a fool’s errand,” claiming that “expensive sensors are unnecessary,” Aurora stated that it believes multiple sensors are needed for safe navigation. Tesla and some other autonomous vehicle developers such as Nissan Motor Co. have said that cheaper optical cameras are sufficient. Others, such as Waymo, are making and offering their own lidar systems.

“We’ve long said that the safest approach to building self-driving technology is by using different sensor modalities  —  cameras, radar, and of course, lidar,” said Aurora. “Different sensor modalities have different strengths and weaknesses; thus, incorporating multiple modalities drives dramatic improvements in the reliability of the system. Based on our decades of industry experience, we’re clear that lidar, specifically with the advancements Blackmore has made, is part of the ultimate sensing system.”

Aurora noted that Blackmore has been a pioneer in frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) lidar that minimize interference. Blackmore claims to be the first company to offer commercial FMCW sensors.

“Blackmore starts with photonic hardware proven in the optical fiber communications industry,” the company said. “Signal processing then maximizes FMCW’s advantages of high dynamic range, single photon sensitivity, and interference immunity  —  technical jargon that translates into real safety margin, chip-level scalability, and all-weather performance.”

Lidar leader Velodyne recently partnered with Nikon to mass-produce sensors and lower their price.

Altering perception

In addition to making the autonomous Driver safer and more affordable, Blackmore’s technology could help it “rewrite perception in robotics,” said Aurora. Rather than focus on hardware, as others are, the company said it is building a “full stack” for autonomous vehicles.

Aurora is working with Byton Co., Hyundai Motor Co., and Volkswagen AG, and it rejected a takeover offer from Volkswagen last year, according to Bloomberg. Aurora also acquired 7D Labs earlier this year, reported TechCrunch.

Aurora’s transaction is just the latest in a wave of investments and acquisitions among component technology providers and vehicle makers around self-driving cars. For instance, General Motors’ Cruise unit raised $1.15 billion earlier this month.

About The Author

Eugene Demaitre

Eugene Demaitre was senior editor of The Robot Report from 2019-2020. Prior to working at WTWH Media, he was an editor at BNA (now part of Bloomberg), Computerworld, TechTarget, and Robotics Business Review. Demaitre has participated in robotics webcasts and conferences worldwide. He has a master's from the George Washington University and lives in the Boston area.

Tell Us What You Think! Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Related Articles Read More >

American Robotics
What the FAA’s landmark approval means for commercial drones
Marc Raibert Atlas dancing
Marc Raibert on lessons learned from Atlas’ dance skills
Bear Flag Robotics' autonomous tractor
Bear Flag robotics raises $7.9M for autonomous tractors
ATI Industrial Automation
ATI releases end-effector kits for FANUC CRX cobots

Robotics Year in Review

The Robot Report Listing Database

Latest Robotics News

Robot Report Podcast

Teradyne’s acquisition strategy & the future of cobot

The Robot Report Podcast · Teradyne's acquisition strategy & the future of cobots

Sponsored Content

  • Doosan Robotics: Driving Innovation and Growth in Cobots
  • FORT Robotics Podcast: FORT Robotics on how to keep humans safe and in control of robots
  • Pallet Detection Systems Help Automated Forklifts Modernize Warehouse Operations
  • IES Servo Control Gripper
  • How to cut the cost of manufacturing

Tweets by RoboticTips

The Robot Report
  • Collaborative Robotics Trends
  • Field Robotics Forum
  • Healthcare Robotics Engineering Forum
  • RoboBusiness Event
  • Robotics Business Review
  • Robotics Summit & Expo
  • About The Robot Report
  • Subscribe
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2021 WTWH Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media. Site Map | Privacy Policy | RSS

Search The Robot Report

  • Research
  • Technologies
    • Batteries / Power Supplies
    • Cameras / Imaging / Vision
    • Controllers
    • Grippers / End Effectors
    • Microprocessors / SoCs
    • Motion Control
    • Sensors / Sensing Systems
    • Soft Robotics
    • Software / Simulation
  • Development
    • A.I. / Cognition
    • Human Robot Interaction / Haptics
    • Mobility / Navigation
  • Robots
    • AGVs
    • AMRs
    • Consumer
    • Collaborative Robots
    • Drones
    • Exoskeletons
    • Self-Driving Vehicles
    • Unmanned Maritime Systems
  • Markets
    • Agriculture
    • Defense / Security
    • Healthcare
    • Logistics
    • Manufacturing
    • Mining
  • Investments
  • Resources
    • COVID-19
    • Digital Issues
    • Publications
      • Collaborative Robotics Trends
      • Robotics Business Review
    • RBR50
    • Search Robotics Database
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • Events
    • RoboBusiness Direct
    • Robotics Summit & Expo
    • Healthcare Robotics Engineering Forum
    • DeviceTalks
    • R&D 100
  • Podcast