Ouster Introduces 3D Lidar Suite for High-Volume Material Handling Applications

Ouster Inc. this week announced that it has released a 3D industrial lidar sensor suite designed for high-volume material handling applications. The line of high-resolution OS0 and OS1 sensors is configured to meet the requirements of forklift, port equipment, and mobile robot makers at price points to enable adoption in large fleets, said the company.

“Material handling OEMs and companies manufacturing their own warehouse robots with unit demand for thousands of sensors require competitive volume pricing and a unique set of sensor capabilities,” said Nate Dickerman, president of field operations at Ouster.

“The 3D capabilities of our industrial sensor suite outperform legacy 2D laser scanners by delivering superior resolution, range, and field of view without increasing system cost or complexity," he added. "Customers retrofitting their fleets with our industrial sensors can expect a compelling return on their investment with improved speed, safety, and fleet efficiency.”

Ouster builds sensors to industrial requirements

San Francisco-based Ouster provides high-resolution digital lidar sensors for the automotive, industrial, smart infrastructure, and robotics industries. With a global team and high-volume manufacturing, the company supports about 600 customers in more than 50 countries.

Ouster claimed that its industrial sensors are built for ruggedness, robustness, and reliability in different weather conditions. It said they are particularly suitable for applications that require short-range detection and an ultra-wide field of view for maneuvering in narrow spaces and dynamic environments.

In addition, Ouster said its new sensor suite can help material handling customers reduce safety incidents in the warehouse that are a result of 2D lidar limitations. It also allows automated equipment to be used in more shared workspaces, said the company.

Ouster supplies high-resolution lidar at scale for Vecna Robotics' autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and with MOV.AI's software platform.

Sensor suite capabilities

Ouster touted the following characteristics of its industrial sensor suite:

• Industry-leading reliability
• High resolution, with 128 channels
• Detects common warehouse obstacles that 2D lidar sensors miss
• Range up to 100 m (328 ft.)
• Ultra-wide field of view: up to 90º vertical and up to 360º horizontal
• Rated for indoor and outdoor use in all weather conditions

“Ouster is poised to become the default choice for industrial automation with the launch of our industrial sensor suite alongside upcoming chip releases, software, and industrial safety certifications,” said Angus Pacala, CEO of Ouster. “With this product line, we aim to capture a significant share of the $1 billion market for industrial lidar sensors as customers see the immense benefits of converting from analog 2D industrial lidar to our digital 3D lidar suite.”