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Hesai Technology Pushes Boundaries with Picasso Lidar and Kosmo Platform

In a groundbreaking event held on April 17, 2026, Hesai Technology, a leading global name in intelligent technology and 3D perception, showcased its latest innovations during the 2026 Technology Open Day in Palo Alto, California. With a focus on spatial intelligence, the company unveiled the Picasso 6D full-color lidar, marking a significant advancement in lidar technology and setting the stage for future applications across industries, including autonomous driving and robotics.

Picasso Lidar - The Future of Perception

At the forefront of Hesai’s announcement is the Picasso lidar, recognized as the world's first 6D full-color ultra-sensitive lidar SPAD-SoC (Single Photon Avalanche Diode System on Chip). This revolutionary technology offers integrated color information along with spatial data directly at the chip level, eliminating the need for complex sensor fusion typically required in conventional lidar systems. By seamlessly combining RGB sensing with time-of-flight ranging, Picasso generates colorized point clouds, significantly enhancing the environmental understanding necessary for next-generation autonomous vehicles.

With photon detection efficiency (PDE) exceeding 40%, Picasso provides unmatched sensitivity. This advancement ensures improved long-range detection capabilities, the ability to identify smaller objects, and enhanced performance in low-light environments. Consequently, autonomous systems powered by Picasso are positioned to recognize traffic signals, lane markings, and construction zones with greater accuracy.

Next-Gen ETX Platform

Complementing the Picasso platform is the next-generation ETX lidar series, which has undergone significant upgrades to support full-color perception with the capability of harnessing over 4,320 channels. Designed explicitly for Level 3 (L3) autonomous vehicles and beyond, ETX's architecture balances longer range, higher resolution, and advanced color perception. It boasts impressive detection ranges of up to 600 meters, empowering vehicles to navigate complex environments with certainty and safety.

This groundbreaking platform employs innovative technologies, such as Addressable Photon Isolation technology and the Intelligent Point Cloud Engine (IPE), ensuring that the detection process is reliable and minimizes noise. ETX is anticipated to commence mass production in the latter half of 2026 and is set to enhance autonomous driving systems on numerous flagship vehicle models.

Embracing Robotics and Physical AI

As Hesai solidifies its position in the automotive market, the company is simultaneously expanding its reach into the domains of robotics and Physical AI. The need for superior perception capabilities has grown, driven by various applications spanning delivery robots, automated guided vehicles (AGVs), and robotic platforms, where lidar systems are critical.

Hesai is becoming an integral player in the robotics sector, currently leading globally across multiple lidar segments, thanks in part to its robust partnerships and collaborations, including a significant alliance with NVIDIA on the DRIVE Hyperion 10 platform. This expands its market presence while facilitating the development of new autonomous systems across various sectors, showcasing a holistic development approach in both automotive and robotic arenas.

Introducing Kosmo: The New AI Hardware Platform

In addition to its extraordinary lidar advancements, Hesai unveiled Kosmo, an innovative spatial intelligence AI hardware platform designed to emulate the physical world and create immersive experiences. Set to launch later this year, Kosmo aims to enhance the quality and speed of spatial data generation, addressing the pressing demand for high-fidelity real-world data that is essential for developing effective world models.

Applications for Kosmo span various fields, including home design, where users can digitally recreate their living spaces, and robotics training, providing robots with simulated environments to interact and learn. This project reflects Hesai's commitment to pushing the boundaries of technology beyond mere spatial perception into full-fledged spatial intelligence.

A Bright Future Ahead

Hesai Technology's strategic developments signal a transformative shift in how machines interpret and interact with the world, paving the way for innovations in autonomous vehicles and intelligent systems. With a robust patent portfolio, high production capabilities, and a commitment to quality, Hesai is well-positioned to lead the market towards the era of Physical AI. As the demand for advanced lidar technology is projected to rise significantly in the coming years, Hesai stands at the forefront of this revolution, ready to meet the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.