The Robot Report

  • Home
  • News
  • Technologies
    • Batteries / Power Supplies
    • Cameras / Imaging / Vision
    • Controllers
    • End Effectors
    • Microprocessors / SoCs
    • Motion Control
    • Sensors
    • Soft Robotics
    • Software / Simulation
  • Development
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Human Robot Interaction / Haptics
    • Mobility / Navigation
    • Research
  • Robots
    • AGVs
    • AMRs
    • Consumer
    • Collaborative Robots
    • Drones
    • Humanoids
    • Industrial
    • Self-Driving Vehicles
    • Unmanned Maritime Systems
  • Business
    • Financial
      • Investments
      • Mergers & Acquisitions
      • Earnings
    • Markets
      • Agriculture
      • Healthcare
      • Logistics
      • Manufacturing
      • Mining
      • Security
    • RBR50
      • RBR50 Winners 2025
      • RBR50 Winners 2024
      • RBR50 Winners 2023
      • RBR50 Winners 2022
      • RBR50 Winners 2021
  • Resources
    • Automated Warehouse Research Reports
    • Digital Issues
    • eBooks
    • Publications
      • Automated Warehouse
      • Collaborative Robotics Trends
    • Search Robotics Database
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
  • Events
    • RoboBusiness
    • Robotics Summit & Expo
    • DeviceTalks
    • R&D 100
    • Robotics Weeks
  • Podcast
    • Episodes
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

Waymo to stop selling LiDAR sensors

By Steve Crowe | August 27, 2021

Waymo Honeycomb LiDAR

Waymo will stop selling its Laser Bear Honeycomb LiDAR to other companies. | Photo Credit: Waymo

There goes our favorite phrase again: “winding down.” Last week, Intel said it was winding down its RealSense business, although the depth cameras will continue for now. Now it’s Waymo‘s turn.

The leading autonomous vehicle company is winding down its commercial LiDAR business. It will no longer sell its LiDAR sensors to third-party companies. We first saw this report from Reuters and have since confirmed it independently with Waymo.

“We’re winding down our commercial LiDAR business as we maintain our focus on developing and deploying our Waymo Driver across our Waymo One (ride-hailing) and Waymo Via (delivery) units,” a Waymo spokesperson said in a statement.

In 2019, Waymo began selling its short-range Laser Bear Honeycomb LiDAR to customers that didn’t compete with its robotaxi business. At the time, Waymo said initial targets included robotics, security and agricultural companies.

So this is a reversal of strategy after about 2.5 years. Former Waymo CEO John Krafcik left the company in April 2021, and several other executives have also left in recent months. Tim Willis, former GM of Waymo’s LiDAR business, left in February. He joined LiDAR company Aeva, a publicly-traded business that recently completed its merger with special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) InterPrivate Acquisition.

According to Reuters, Australian company Droid + Robot tested prototype robots that used Waymo’s Honeycomb LiDAR in mines. “Everyone knew the risks associated with that venture,” Mat Allan, manager of perception and AI, Droid + Robot, told Reuters. “It’s a good product. We haven’t found anything that matches price to performance… It’s a shame though we couldn’t continue the journey.”

Waymo began manufacturing its own LIDAR sensors in 2011 to reduce cost. At the time, Waymo said it could lower the unit price from $75,000 for an off-the-shelf LIDAR sensor to just $7,500 with its own custom version. However, it’s unclear how much revenue was generated by selling LiDAR sensors to third-party companies. At press time, Waymo didn’t disclose how many LiDAR units it sold or how many customers it had.

Waymo just launched a limited robotaxi service in San Francisco that is open to select riders. The “research-focused program” allows San Franciscans to take an autonomous ride in a Waymo all-electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicle. The vehicles are equipped with Waymo’s fifth-generation autonomous driving system, which included major upgrades to cameras, radar, and LIDAR sensors. Reuters reports Waymo is considering both internal technology and external suppliers for its next-generation LiDAR sensors.

In October 2020, Waymo opened its Level 4 driverless robotaxi service, called Waymo One, to the general public in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The driverless Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans operate in about a 50-square-mile area in the suburbs of Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, and Tempe. It was awarded a 2021 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award for this accomplishment.

Waymo has raised $5.5 billion in external funding. It raised $2.5 billion in June 2020, and its first external funding round, which totaled $3 billion, came in 2020.

About The Author

Steve Crowe

Steve Crowe is Executive Editor, Robotics, WTWH Media, and chair of the Robotics Summit & Expo and RoboBusiness. He is also co-host of The Robot Report Podcast, the top-rated podcast for the robotics industry. He joined WTWH Media in January 2018 after spending four-plus years as Managing Editor of Robotics Trends Media. He can be reached at scrowe@wtwhmedia.com

Comments

  1. Ron says

    August 29, 2021 at 11:20 am

    Great piece. Will this encourage others like LAZER AND INVZ to pickup the slack?

    Reply

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 >

The Loomia Smart Skin Developer Kit can help roboticists test flexible tactile sensing, as shown here with robotic hands.
Loomia Smart Skin Developer Kit to help give humanoid robots a sense of touch
An automated excavator dumping dirt into a truck.
Bedrock Robotics brings in $80M for construction retrofit kits
Cohesive Robotics offers software for an adaptable welding workcell, shown here.
Cohesive Robotics releases Smart Welding Robotic Workcell
An automotive assembly line with several orange industrial robots building cars.
Japanese automotive industry hits five year high in automation

RBR50 Innovation Awards

“rr
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, tools and strategies for Robotics Professionals.
The Robot Report Listing Database

Latest Episode of The Robot Report Podcast

Automated Warehouse Research Reports

Sponsored Content

  • How to Set Up a Planetary Gear Motion with SOLIDWORKS
  • Sager Electronics and its partners, logos shown here, will exhibit at the 2025 Robotics Summit & Expo. Sager Electronics to exhibit at the Robotics Summit & Expo
  • The Shift in Robotics: How Visual Perception is Separating Winners from the Pack
  • An AutoStore automated storage and retrieval grid. Webinar to provide automated storage and retrieval adoption advice
  • Smaller, tougher devices for evolving demands
The Robot Report
  • Automated Warehouse
  • RoboBusiness Event
  • Robotics Summit & Expo
  • About The Robot Report
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2025 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
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search The Robot Report

  • Home
  • News
  • Technologies
    • Batteries / Power Supplies
    • Cameras / Imaging / Vision
    • Controllers
    • End Effectors
    • Microprocessors / SoCs
    • Motion Control
    • Sensors
    • Soft Robotics
    • Software / Simulation
  • Development
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Human Robot Interaction / Haptics
    • Mobility / Navigation
    • Research
  • Robots
    • AGVs
    • AMRs
    • Consumer
    • Collaborative Robots
    • Drones
    • Humanoids
    • Industrial
    • Self-Driving Vehicles
    • Unmanned Maritime Systems
  • Business
    • Financial
      • Investments
      • Mergers & Acquisitions
      • Earnings
    • Markets
      • Agriculture
      • Healthcare
      • Logistics
      • Manufacturing
      • Mining
      • Security
    • RBR50
      • RBR50 Winners 2025
      • RBR50 Winners 2024
      • RBR50 Winners 2023
      • RBR50 Winners 2022
      • RBR50 Winners 2021
  • Resources
    • Automated Warehouse Research Reports
    • Digital Issues
    • eBooks
    • Publications
      • Automated Warehouse
      • Collaborative Robotics Trends
    • Search Robotics Database
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
  • Events
    • RoboBusiness
    • Robotics Summit & Expo
    • DeviceTalks
    • R&D 100
    • Robotics Weeks
  • Podcast
    • Episodes
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe