According to a press release on Sept. 17, Cron AI, a company specializing in adaptive 3D edge perception platforms, and Lumotive, have announced a collaboration aimed at advancing the next generation of 3D sensor technology. The partnership centers on creating a solid-state Lidar design that incorporates deep learning capabilities through the use of Lumotive's Light Control Metasurface (LCM) chip, which is expected to enhance 3D sensing significantly.

The collaboration signifies a major advancement in 3D perception technology by merging the strengths of both companies into a unified design using Lumotive's 3D Sensing development kits. These kits are set to facilitate the design of systems that operate similarly to camera modules, offering software-defined Region of Interest (ROI) for improved dynamic range, higher frame rates and resolution, which can be dynamically controlled by object detection or perception layers such as those offered by Cron AI.

The company said that the partnership heralds a new era in the development of intelligent sensors that integrate Lidar data into actionable intelligence through a deep learning layer, effectively creating a highly dynamic closed-loop system that combines Lumotive's software-defined capabilities with Cron AI's AI-enabled perception layer software for precise detections. The collaborative effort leads to a sensor that moves beyond the traditional Lidar versus camera technology debate, offering a blend of functionalities such as License Plate Recognition (LPR) and Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) from camera technology with Lidar's accurate object detection, classification and comprehensive environmental data processing in real time.

This technologically advanced sensor surpasses traditional mechanical Lidar and camera systems in performance while remaining cost-effective, offering a broader range of application possibilities across multiple industries. These include autonomous vehicles and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications for safer navigation and obstacle detection; Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and Vision Zero initiatives for improved traffic management and safety; real-time monitoring for crowd and people management; and enhanced data collection for smart city and security applications.

The partnership combines Cron AI's senseEDGE platform with Lumotive's LCM chip-based development kit for solid-state Lidar, empowering infrastructure operators with real-time, contextual 3D data. This collaboration is set to redefine 3D sensing and perception across various industries, with both CEOs, Sam Heidari of Lumotive and Tushar Chhabra of Cron AI, expressing their enthusiasm for the potential impact of their joint efforts on the future of intelligent infrastructure.