## Aeva Technologies Inc. Expands Beyond Automotive with Major Deal for Industrial Applications
In a significant move that underlines the expanding reach of its advanced 4D LiDAR technology, Aeva Technologies Inc. has secured a multi-year sensor supply agreement with The Indoor Lab. This deal marks a pivotal step for Aeva, demonstrating the company’s ability to penetrate the industrial market and leverage its technology beyond its initial focus on the automotive sector.
The Indoor Lab, a renowned provider of LiDAR perception and analytics solutions, operates a platform that enhances safety, security, and operational efficiency across various industries. This platform serves major U.S. airports, mass transit railways, agriculture, smart infrastructure at theme parks, and even cities at a broader level.
This multi-year agreement marks a first for Aeva’s next-generation 4D LiDAR, known as Atlas. Sensor shipments are set to commence this month, with plans for a substantial ramp-up in 2025 to support multiple large-scale projects. This deal is particularly timely, offering Aeva a boost in near-term revenue opportunities ahead of its production launch with Daimler Truck. It also complements existing production programs with Nikon and May Mobility.
The Indoor Lab will initially integrate Aeva’s 4D LiDAR at key locations, including New Terminal One at John F. Kennedy International Airport and San Francisco International Airport. Beyond aviation, The Indoor Lab intends to utilize Aeva’s sensors for undisclosed integrations in agriculture and smart infrastructure at theme parks, cities, and other large venues throughout the U.S.
Why is Aeva Winning in the Market?
Patrick Blattner, founder and CEO of The Indoor Lab, highlights the key advantage of Aeva’s 4D LiDAR technology: “We have evaluated nearly all time-of-flight 3D LiDAR technologies on the market today and selected Aeva because we see significant advantages in its 4D LiDAR technology.”
Aeva’s advanced LiDAR technology utilizes a low-power continuous laser beam to simultaneously measure range and velocity. This unique approach unlocks new levels of perception, enabling instantaneous discrimination between moving and stationary objects while precisely determining the velocity of objects in motion. Aeva has achieved a compact and scalable solution by integrating all critical LiDAR components onto a silicon photonics chip in a compact module, paving the way for a wide range of automation applications.
Beyond the Automotive Market
This deal with The Indoor Lab is a testament to Aeva’s strategic expansion into the industrial and security markets. Earlier this year, Aeva was selected by a leading U.S. National Security Organization to bolster the protection of critical energy infrastructure sites across the country. Aeva’s sensors are expected to serve as primary detection mechanisms, safeguarding sensitive locations within various facilities from intrusions, including unauthorized entry and exit points and perimeter fence breaches.
This national defense security organization chose Aeva 4D LiDAR after a thorough evaluation of multiple sensing technologies, including 3D time-of-flight LiDAR. James Byun, managing director of business development at Aeva, states, “Aeva is seeing significant momentum in the market following recent wins in automotive and industrial including our recent selection by a top national defense security organization. This key production win with The Indoor Lab solidifies Aeva’s position in the industrial market as the go-to lidar supplier of choice when performance and scalability matter.”
A Future-Proofed Solution
The Indoor Lab’s Overwatch Perception Platform, a component of its Enterprise Analytics Suite for Critical Infrastructure, will integrate Aeva 4D LiDAR. This platform provides round-the-clock, AI-powered analytics for monitoring and managing indoor and outdoor environments. Blattner underscores the strategic value of Aeva’s technology: “Aeva is the first to commercialize 4D LiDAR for production at scale and its technology brings crucial advantages to our analytics platform including the addition of instant velocity data and the inherent immunity to sunlight interference. By selecting Aeva, we have future-proofed our perception analytics platform for critical infrastructure throughout the U.S. and will be able to provide the most comprehensive and advanced solutions for our customers at scale.”
A Bright Future for Aeva
Aeva’s momentum continues to grow. The company is on track for an industrial metrology and manufacturing automation program launch with Nikon by the end of 2024. This program involves the production of sensors for Nikon’s industrial machines, designed to inspect objects on manufacturing assembly lines for microscopic defects, even those smaller than the width of a human hair.
Aeva’s diverse applications, ranging from safeguarding critical infrastructure to enhancing manufacturing efficiency, safety, and operations for large-scale organizations, demonstrate the versatility of its unique technology. With the LiDAR market projected to grow at a CAGR of 19.3% between now and 2030, Aeva is poised to play a leading role in this market expansion, capitalizing on its strong track record of innovation and partnerships.
