Hesai Expands Patent Portfolio with Swiss Acquisition, Paving Way for Robotic Innovation

Hesai Enhances Its Patent Portfolio for Robotics Revolution

Hesai Technology, a prominent figure in the global lidar technology market, has made significant strides in enhancing its intellectual property reservoir through the acquisition of various Swiss digital lidar patents. With a clear focus on automotive mobility and robotics applications, this expansion solidifies Hesai's status as an innovation leader in the lidar industry.

The Importance of Patent Volume

The volume of patents held by a company is often seen as a reliable metric of its innovation capabilities. As of December 2024, Hesai has amassed an impressive portfolio of nearly 1,800 patents and patent applications worldwide. According to data from the global patent database Patsnap, Hesai has more than 1,500 published patent applications within the lidar sector and over 600 granted global patents, highlighting a robust presence across various countries and regions. This extensive intellectual property strategy establishes Hesai as a formidable player in the competitive lidar market.

SPAD Technology: A Core Component

At the heart of digital lidar technology is the Single Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD). Recognizing this potential early on, Hesai began researching SPAD technology in 2016, positioning itself among the first lidar companies in this domain. The late 2023 acquisition of Fastree3D, a Swiss leader in SPAD technology, marked a milestone. Fastree3D’s strong academic foundations at EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) have fostered over 20 years of research that culminated in groundbreaking advancements in CMOS image sensors and single-photon detectors. As the pioneer of SPAD digital lidar technology, Fastree3D holds a wealth of SPAD-related patents, essential to driving innovation in digital lidar.

Integration into Fourth-Generation Technology

With this strategic acquisition, Hesai integrates its core SPAD technology into its fourth-generation platform, set to commence production in 2025. This cutting-edge platform is anticipated to revolutionize the lidar industry by delivering high-quality, high-performance, and cost-effective lidar products, thus facilitating the large-scale development of lidar technologies.

The forthcoming solid-state lidar model, FTX, is a highlight of this new technology platform. The FTX boasts an industry-leading field of view (FOV) of 180° x 140°, which is the widest among automotive-grade solid-state lidars. It offers impressive scope, with a range reaching 30 meters at 10% reflectivity, and achieves a remarkable point rate of 492,000 points per second—2.5 times higher than its predecessor. Its lightweight design is a significant improvement, weighing 66% less than earlier models, and its embedded installation concept enhances its visual appeal by minimizing the exposed window area to just 50 x 30 mm.

Expanding Applications in Robotics

Hesai's fully solid-state FTX lidar, along with mini JT128 and JT16 domed lidars, are poised for seamless integration into a variety of intelligent robotic systems. These include humanoid robots, autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs), delivery robots, robotic lawn mowers, cleaning robots, agricultural machinery, and more. The ultrawide field of view and real-time 3D perception provided by Hesai's lidars represent a cost-effective alternative to the traditional reliance on multiple 2D lidars or cameras typically employed in robotic applications.

In December 2024 alone, Hesai delivered over 20,000 lidar units to its robotic clientele, indicative of its growing impact in the field. Looking ahead, the company forecasts shipments of over 1 million lidar units in 2025, bolstered by its in-house mass production capabilities and unwavering commitment to research and innovation.

By strategically enhancing its patent portfolio and focusing on groundbreaking technologies such as SPAD, Hesai Technology is well-positioned to lead the next wave of advancements in the robotics and automotive industries, setting the stage for a transformative future in lidar applications.