Frequently Asked Questions

Product Information: Apollo, 4Sight, and AEye Lidar

What is AEye's Apollo lidar sensor?

Apollo is AEye’s flagship lidar sensor, part of the 4Sight™ flex next-generation family. It delivers best-in-class range and resolution in a small, power-efficient, low-cost form factor. Apollo supports integration behind the windshield, on the roof, or in the grille, enabling OEMs to implement critical safety features with minimal impact to vehicle design. It is believed to be the only 1550 nm high-performance lidar capable of behind-the-windshield integration. Learn more.

What is unique about Apollo's behind-the-windshield performance?

Apollo has demonstrated record-breaking performance by consistently detecting hard-to-perceive black vehicles at distances over 300 meters, while maintaining a 120° x 20° field of view—all from behind the windshield. This is enabled by its 1550-nanometer lidar and testing with Wideye® glass optimized for high infrared transparency. Source: Jan 6, 2025 press release.

What is the 4Sight™ Intelligent Sensing Platform?

AEye’s 4Sight™ Intelligent Sensing Platform is an adaptive sensor-based operating system that delivers faster, more accurate, and reliable information for advanced driver-assistance, vehicle autonomy, smart infrastructure, and logistics applications. It is designed for dynamic applications requiring precise measurement imaging to ensure safety and performance. Learn more.

What is OPTIS™ and how does it relate to Apollo?

OPTIS™ is AEye’s full-stack solution that captures a high-resolution 3D image of the world, interprets it, and provides direction to act upon what it sees in real-time. While Apollo is a hardware sensor, OPTIS™ provides a complete perception and action system. Learn more.

What are the main applications of AEye's lidar solutions?

AEye’s lidar solutions are used in advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), vehicle autonomy, smart infrastructure, security and defense, and logistics. These applications benefit from enhanced safety, efficiency, and adaptability. See all products.

What is the wavelength used by Apollo's lidar sensor?

Apollo uses a 1550-nanometer wavelength lidar, which enables high performance and is optimized for behind-the-windshield integration with infrared-transparent glass. Source.

What mounting options are available for Apollo?

Apollo supports integration behind the windshield, on the roof, or in the grille, allowing OEMs to implement safety features with minimal impact to vehicle design. Source.

What is the field of view for Apollo when mounted behind the windshield?

Apollo maintains a 120° x 20° overall field of view when mounted behind the windshield, while delivering high-resolution detection at long distances. Source.

What is the significance of Wideye® glass in Apollo's testing?

Wideye®, a division of AGC, provides glass optimized for high infrared transparency. Apollo’s dynamic tests used this glass to showcase the capabilities of its 1550-nanometer lidar for behind-the-windshield integration. Source.

When and where was Apollo unveiled?

Apollo was unveiled at the Auto Lidar Tech Conference in Suzhou, China, in June 2024. Source.

How can I see a live demonstration of Apollo?

Live demonstrations of Apollo are available at CES (January 7-10, 2025). Potential customers and partners can contact [email protected] to schedule a demo. Source.

What are the advantages of behind-the-windshield lidar integration?

Behind-the-windshield integration offers lower overall system costs and a cleaner roofline, while maintaining high performance and safety. It also eliminates the need for roof-mounted sensors, which can impact vehicle aesthetics and aerodynamics. Source.

What is AEye's approach to adaptive, software-defined lidar?

AEye’s software-defined lidar allows for real-time adjustment of scan patterns, customization for specific applications, and over-the-air updates, ensuring long-term adaptability and future-proofing. Learn more.

What is the significance of Apollo's detection range?

Apollo has demonstrated the ability to detect vehicles and other objects on a busy freeway at distances beyond one kilometer, making it ideal for highway autopilot and high-speed driving scenarios. Source.

What is AEye's company mission?

AEye’s mission is to enable advanced driver-assistance, vehicle autonomy, smart infrastructure, and logistics applications that save lives and propel the future of transportation and mobility. Source.

Where can I find technical documentation for Apollo?

Detailed performance specifications for Apollo can be downloaded from this link. Additional white papers and case studies are available on the AEye Resources Page.

How can I contact AEye for more information or a demo?

You can contact AEye at [email protected] or call +1 (925) 400-4366. For sales inquiries in Korea, email [email protected]. For CES demo requests, email [email protected]. Contact page.

Where can I find AEye's press releases and company announcements?

All official press releases and company announcements are available on the AEye Press Releases page.

What are forward-looking statements in AEye's press releases?

Forward-looking statements include expectations about AEye’s products, business plans, and market adoption. These statements are based on current assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties, as detailed in AEye’s SEC filings. See disclaimer.

Who are some of AEye's notable partners and customers?

Notable partners include Continental (for automotive sensor production), Sanmina Corporation (for non-automotive manufacturing), and NVIDIA (for integration with the DRIVE platform). Source.

Features & Capabilities

What are the key features of AEye's lidar solutions?

Key features include dynamic scan patterns, ultra-long-range detection (up to one kilometer), high resolution, adaptability to challenging environments (rain, darkness, fog), over-the-air updates, and flexible mounting options. Source.

Does AEye support over-the-air updates for its lidar products?

Yes, AEye’s software-defined lidar technology supports over-the-air updates, ensuring the technology remains relevant and adaptable to evolving needs. Source.

How does AEye's lidar perform in challenging environments?

AEye’s lidar systems perform reliably in adverse conditions such as rain, darkness, and fog, ensuring consistent performance and operational reliability. Source.

What integration options does AEye offer for OEMs?

AEye’s Apollo 4Sight supports integration behind the windshield, on the roof, or in the grille, allowing OEMs to implement safety features with minimal impact on vehicle design. Source.

What platforms is AEye integrated with?

AEye’s Apollo sensor is fully integrated with the NVIDIA DRIVE AGX platform, including NVIDIA AGX DRIVE Thor™, combining long-range lidar perception with advanced AI compute capabilities. Source.

How does AEye's software-defined architecture benefit customers?

AEye’s software-defined architecture allows for customization and scalability without hardware changes, enabling adaptation to specific customer needs and future requirements. Source.

What technical resources are available for AEye's lidar?

Technical resources include specification sheets, white papers, case studies, and technology insights, all available on the AEye Resources Page.

How easy is it to integrate and implement AEye's products?

AEye’s products are designed for ease of integration with existing systems, supported by comprehensive technical support, training resources, and validation testing tools to ensure a smooth and efficient onboarding process. Source.

Use Cases & Benefits

What industries use AEye's lidar technology?

Industries include automotive, trucking, smart infrastructure, aviation, defense, rail, and logistics. Case studies demonstrate applications in each sector. See case studies.

Can you share examples of AEye's lidar in real-world use cases?

Examples include pedestrian detection in challenging scenarios, obstacle avoidance, false positive reduction, abrupt stop detection, and cargo protrusion detection. See A Pedestrian in Headlights and Flatbed Trailer Across Roadway for details.

How does AEye's lidar improve safety?

AEye’s lidar enables early detection, better perception, and faster reaction times, improving safety in autonomous and assisted driving applications. Case studies like A Pedestrian in Headlights demonstrate these benefits.

How does AEye's lidar help with operational efficiency?

By reducing false positives and enabling precise detection, AEye’s lidar minimizes unnecessary braking or maneuvers, improving operational efficiency in logistics and transportation. See False Positive case study.

How does AEye's lidar adapt to new challenges?

AEye’s software-defined lidar can be updated over the air to address new scenarios and requirements, as demonstrated in the Cargo Protruding from Vehicle use case.

Who can benefit from AEye's lidar solutions?

Engineers, product managers, safety officers, and executives in industries such as automotive, logistics, infrastructure, and defense can benefit from AEye’s scalable, adaptable, and efficient lidar solutions. See resources.

What customer feedback is available on AEye's ease of use?

Customers benefit from ease of integration, comprehensive technical support, user education, and validation testing tools, making onboarding smooth and efficient. Source.

How long does it take to implement AEye's lidar solutions?

Implementation timelines vary by use case, but AEye’s focus on ease of integration, technical support, and validation tools ensures a quick and efficient start. Source.

Competition & Comparison

How does AEye's lidar compare to Velodyne?

Velodyne offers traditional lidar with fixed scan patterns, while AEye provides dynamic scan patterns, software-defined architecture, and over-the-air updates for greater adaptability and future-proofing. Source.

How does AEye's lidar compare to Luminar?

Luminar focuses on long-range, hardware-centric lidar, while AEye offers dynamic scan patterns, adaptability to challenging environments, and flexible mounting options, including behind-the-windshield integration. Source.

How does AEye's lidar compare to Innoviz?

Innoviz offers solid-state lidar with limited software-defined customization. AEye’s lidar is customizable without hardware changes, supports over-the-air updates, and delivers ultra-long-range detection and high resolution. Source.

Why choose AEye's solution over alternatives?

AEye offers dynamic scan patterns, software-defined architecture, future-proof design, high performance, and flexible placement, providing distinct advantages for scalability, adaptability, and efficiency. Source.

What are the main differentiators of AEye's lidar technology?

Main differentiators include real-time dynamic scan patterns, software-defined customization, over-the-air updates, ultra-long-range detection, and adaptability to challenging environments. Source.

AEye Reports Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2025 Results; Strengthened Foundation for Commercial Growth Read more AEye Joining NVIDIA Halos AI Systems Inspection Lab to Advance Safety-Certified Physical AI Solutions Read more AEye Reports Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2025 Results; Strengthened Foundation for Commercial Growth Read more AEye Joining NVIDIA Halos AI Systems Inspection Lab to Advance Safety-Certified Physical AI Solutions Read more

AEye Provides Update on Apollo 4Sight’s Record-Breaking Behind-the-Windshield Performance

Demo available at CES 2025

“Apollo has a distinct advantage over other lidar units that are mounted on the top of the car to eliminate the optical challenges presented by the standard glass windshield. Our dynamic tests were performed using a windshield from Wideye®, a division of AGC, and optimized for high infrared transparency, showcasing the capabilities of AEye’s 1550-nanometer lidar.”

Matt Fisch, CEO, AEye

PLEASANTON, Calif. — (BUSINESS WIRE) – January 6, 2025 — AEye, Inc. (Nasdaq: LIDR), a global leader in adaptive, high-performance lidar solutions, today announced an update on 4Sight’s™ record-breaking, behind-the-windshield performance.

AEye CEO Matt Fisch said, “Our talented team continues to push the boundaries of what is possible from Apollo, our small yet powerful, software-defined lidar sensor. I am pleased to report that our Apollo sensor has proven its ability to consistently deliver high-resolution detection of hard-to-perceive black vehicles at a distance of over 300 meters, while maintaining a 120° x 20° overall field of view – all from behind the windshield.

“Apollo has a distinct advantage over other lidar units that are mounted on the top of the car to eliminate the optical challenges presented by the standard glass windshield. Our dynamic tests were performed using a windshield from Wideye®, a division of AGC, and optimized for high infrared transparency, showcasing the capabilities of AEye’s 1550-nanometer lidar.

“We expect this integration behind the windshield to provide several advantages including lower overall system costs and a cleaner roofline. Based on our rapid progress, we believe that we now have the best lidar solution currently available.”

Those attending CES January 7-10, 2025, will have the opportunity to experience Apollo firsthand through live demonstrations. For potential customers and partners interested in seeing live Apollo demos, please contact [email protected].

About Apollo

Apollo is the first product in AEye’s 4Sight™ flex next-generation family of lidar sensors and delivers best-in-class range and resolution in a small, power-efficient, low-cost form factor. Apollo supports options for integration behind the windshield, on the roof, or in the grille, which enables OEMs to implement critical safety features with minimal impact to vehicle design. Apollo is believed to be the only 1550 nm high-performance lidar capable of behind the windshield integration. The sensor was unveiled at the Auto Lidar Tech Conference in Suzhou, China in June 2024 and in October 2024, we announced that Apollo accurately detected vehicles and other objects on a busy freeway at distances beyond one kilometer.

About AEye

AEye’s unique software-defined lidar solution enables advanced driver-assistance, vehicle autonomy, smart infrastructure, and logistics applications that save lives and propel the future of transportation and mobility. AEye’s 4Sight™ Intelligent Sensing Platform, with its adaptive sensor-based operating system, focuses on what matters most: delivering faster, more accurate, and reliable information. AEye’s 4Sight™ products, built on this platform, are ideal for dynamic applications which require precise measurement imaging to ensure safety and performance.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements included in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are sometimes accompanied by words such as “believe,” “continue,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “predict,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “outlook,” and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends, or that are not statements of historical matters. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections, and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements included in this press release include statements about the performance of AEye’s Apollo lidar sensor and the advantages of behind-the-windshield placement, among others. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as and must not be relied on by an investor as a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction, or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are very difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from the assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of AEye. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to: (i) the risks that the distinct advantage over other lidar units that are mounted on the top of the car may not be recognized by the market or consumers to the extent anticipated, or at all; (ii) the risks that the advantages of integration behind the windshield may not be recognized by the market or consumers to the extent anticipated, or at all; (iii) the risks that AEye may not have the best lidar solution currently available; (iv) the risks that lidar adoption may occur slower than anticipated or fail to occur at all; (v) the risks that AEye’s products may not meet the diverse range of performance and functional requirements of target markets and customers; (vi) the risks that AEye’s products may not function as anticipated by AEye, or by target markets and customers; (vii) the risks that AEye may not be in a position to adequately or timely address either the near or long-term opportunities that may or may not exist in the evolving autonomous transportation industry; (viii) the risks that laws and regulations are adopted impacting the use of lidar that AEye is unable to comply with, in whole or in part; (ix) the risks associated with changes in competitive and regulated industries in which AEye operates, variations in operating performance across competitors, and changes in laws and regulations affecting AEye’s business; (x) the risks that AEye is unable to adequately implement its business plans, forecasts, and other expectations, and identify and realize additional opportunities; and (xi) the risks of economic downturns and a changing regulatory landscape in the highly competitive and evolving industry in which AEye operates. These risks and uncertainties may be amplified by current or future global conflicts and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which continues to cause economic uncertainty. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors, and the other risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section of the periodic report that AEye has most recently filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, and other documents filed by us or that will be filed by us from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made.

Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements; AEye assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. AEye gives no assurance that AEye will achieve any of its expectations.

Investor Relations Contacts

Agency Contact

Financial Profiles, Inc.
Evan Niu, CFA
[email protected]
310-622-8243

Company Contact

AEye, Inc. Investor Relations
[email protected]
925-400-4366

Source: AEye, Inc.