Autonomous radar nav system startup raises funds
The Luneburg lens antenna and radar is an alternative to more costly, less effective radar sensors in use today. Two Lunewave sensors could replace up to 20 traditional automotive radar sensors, while delivering longer distance, six times better resolution and most critically, performance across wide field of view.
The 3D printed Luneburg lens – now its third version in less than three years – offers broad bandwidth, high gain and capability of forming multiple high-quality beams in all directions. Two Lunewave radar sensors could replace 20 radar sensors used today, while providing greater resolution and performance across a wide field-of-view.
FM Capital led the investment round with new investors including Proeza Ventures, Blue 9 Capital, Tsingyuan Ventures and Intact Ventures. Lunewave is also funded through National Science Foundation grants.
“As we continue to actively work with Tier 1 suppliers to establish strategic partnerships to jointly deliver a mass-produced Lunewave radar sensor, I am grateful for the strong support from FM Capital and our other investors ,” said John Xin, Lunewave co-founder and CEO. “Lunewave offers a significant enhancement for ADAS and autonomous vehicle applications for automakers and ride-hailing companies as well as the last-mile delivery, commercial trucking and construction industries.”
Lunewave radar offers a 180-degree field of view in the azimuth (horizontal) plane and can detect objects surrounding a car with six times the resolution available today, even at long range and in poor weather, capabilities that are normally only achievable with multiple sensors.
“Lunewave’s ability to drive down the cost of sensors required while increasing their effectiveness is great news for the auto industry, but it’s even better news for the safety of our highways, roads and pedestrians,” said Mark Norman, managing partner of FM Capital.
“We believe that ADAS and AV systems will continue to make their way into vehicles, leading to a strong growth in radars as they are a core component of both systems,” said Rodolfo Elias Dieck, managing director, Proeza Ventures. “In Lunewave, we see a company with a differentiated technology that provides a high-performance radar that meets and surpasses the ever-increasing requirements for the automotive industry as stricter safety features are needed to comply with regulations.”
Former BMW executive Peter Schwarzenbacher and Tier 1 supplier executive, James Zizelman, joined Lunewave’s board of directors. Schwarzenbacher is the former president and CEO of Porshe and most recently served on BMW’s board of directors. Zizelman is currently the president of Stoneridge Control Devices and the former vice president of engineering for Aptiv.
“Autonomous mobility will revolutionize how we get people and goods from A to B and Lunewave is one of the most relevant companies I’ve seen in this space in years,” Schwarzenbacher said.
“The technology that Lunewave is bringing to market provides the ultimate in value proposition,” said Zizelman. “Not only does this innovation bring truly superior technical capability in field of view, resolution, and other attributes, it also offers the opportunity to replace multiple radar units with a single Lunewave device — better and more cost effective. It’s not often you get more, a lot more, for less!”
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