[250506] #Kodiak Robotics #TI #Daimler Truck

1. Texas Instruments Integrated Driver Promises Cheaper, Better Lidar

• Texas Instruments introduced the LMH13000, an integrated high-speed laser driver designed to improve LiDAR performance and reduce system cost.
• The LMH13000 replaces external components such as GaN FETs and capacitors by combining LVDS, CMOS, and TTL control signals in a single chip.
• This integration reduces the laser module’s size by 75% and lowers cost by approximately 30%, enabling broader LiDAR adoption across vehicle models.
• The LMH13000 enables 800-picosecond rise times, increasing LiDAR detection range by up to 30% compared to conventional discrete-component designs.
• It delivers precise current control from 50mA to 5A, and even higher when used in parallel configurations, with just 2% variation across -40°C to 125°C.
• Its short pulse-width and stable performance meet FDA Class 1 eye safety standards, addressing common challenges in thermal sensitivity and reliability.
• TI emphasizes that this innovation will allow greater vehicle autonomy at scale, driven by more reliable and affordable LiDAR systems.

2. Autonomous Driving: Daimler Truck delivers latest iteration of autonomous-ready truck platform to Torc

Daimler Truck and Torc Robotics are advancing toward the 2027 U.S. market launch of Level 4 autonomous trucks by deploying a production-ready Freightliner Cascadia platform equipped for safe, scalable driverless freight operations.

3. Self-driving buses expected to launch in Belval within weeks

• Luxembourg’s national railway company CFL announced plans to launch a self-driving shuttle bus service in Belval within the first half of 2025.
• The autonomous shuttle will operate on a 2.3 km loop, connecting four key stops: the university, Belval-Université station, Lycée Bel-Val, and a nursing home.
• The Ohmio shuttle, built by New Zealand’s HMI Technologies, features eight seats and is already in use at major airports like Amsterdam, Brussels, and New York.
• Although the shuttle will operate autonomously at 25 km/h, Luxembourg law requires a safety operator on board during all rides.
• The project faced multiple delays, originally scheduled for September 2023, but has now completed nearly a year of real-world testing without passengers.
• Ongoing software adjustments are being made to improve the shuttle’s response to unexpected behavior from other road users, such as illegal parking or speeding.
• The project builds upon Luxembourg’s prior experience with autonomous transport, including the Uelzecht Mobil shuttle in Esch-sur-Alzette.

4. Kodiak Robotics announces public listing through merger with Ares Acquisition Corporation II

5. RoboSense, DiDi Autonomous Driving team up to promote L4 Robotaxi production

• RoboSense and DiDi Autonomous Driving have formed a strategic partnership to advance mass production of Level 4 Robotaxis by the end of 2025.
• The collaboration centers on DiDi’s first L4 Robotaxi, co-developed with GAC AION, and equipped with six RoboSense E1 solid-state LiDARs for blind-spot detection.
• The vehicle’s 33-sensor fusion system provides full 360-degree perception, optimized for complex urban environments and global deployment scenarios.
• The RoboSense E1 is described as a breakthrough in digital LiDAR, featuring SPAD-SoC chips and 2D addressable VCSELs, all integrated into a compact, motionless design.
• E1’s advanced architecture eliminates heat expansion issues and allows for robust signal processing in a single chip, enhancing reliability across diverse use cases.
• DiDi’s Robotaxi platform is already operating in Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai, with over 1,700 consecutive safe operating days using its proprietary AI and operations systems.
• RoboSense has established mass production partnerships with over 310 global OEMs and Tier 1s, including six L4 Robotaxi leaders globally.