Shanghai-based Hesai Technology (HSAI) and Westwell have announced a new partnership to provide advanced lidar applications to established autonomous driving technologies in the industrial robot and heavy machinery spaces.
Hesai is a specialist in lidar solutions and Westwell is a global provider of autonomous driving solutions.
This arrangement will serve over 200 corporate clients across 20 countries, the companies confirm. Westwell's collaboration with Hesai will also "bring higher productivity to the supply chain, significantly enhancing efficiency and quality while reducing carbon emissions on a global scale," per the official press release.
Hesai's lidar tech is already being used in several of Westwell's products such as its new energy autonomous driving Q-Trucks and Q-Tractors. The company claims to have the largest fleet of Q-Truckers at Felixstowe Port in the United Kingdom. It has also deployed Q-Tractors to support Hong Kong's largest independent air cargo operator. These trucks are also used in advanced manufacturing plants to improve transport efficiency and reduce greenhouse gases.
Westwell's Q-Tractor (above). The New Energy Autonomous Driving Tractor at Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (HACTL).Westwell
Companies are actively exploring news to make up for the lack of qualified yard operators, a multibillion dollar industry-wide problem. Autonomous and lidar technologies could end up providing the long-term solution.
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For port operations, large vehicles need precise sensing capabilities to complete accurate maneuvers. Westwell's autonomous Q-Trucks and E-Trucks make use of Hesai's mid-range lidar featuring 5 mm of range precision. The lidar provides cloud data that algorithms can quickly process, resulting in an "optical system "that enables close-range detection, incorporating dirt detection and self-cleaning systems to ensure high-quality performance."
The combined tech will "guarantee vehicle alignment and interactions at ports."
In addition to logistics, lidar is capable of providing precise distance, speed, and imaging data. This all facilitates to precise positioning, obstacles avoidance, and navigation in complex environments, such as warehouses and ports.
