News & Events

SiLC Technologies Receives Investment from Honda to Advance AI Vision Capabilities

SiLC Technologies Receives Investment from Honda to Advance AI Vision Capabilities

MONROVIA, Calif., September 10, 2024 – SiLC Technologies, Inc. (SiLC), today announced it has received an investment from Honda to develop next-generation FMCW LiDAR solutions for all types of mobility. SiLC is the leading developer of integrated, single-chip FMCW (Coherent) LiDAR solutions and focuses on enabling advanced AI-based machine vision. Honda invests in innovative startups through its global open innovation program, Honda Xcelerator Ventures. This program is led by Honda Innovations, a subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

“SiLC is the industry leader in the research and development of FMCW LiDAR, which is capable of detecting vehicles and various obstacles from long distances – and Honda has high expectations for its potential,” said Manabu Ozawa, Managing Executive Officer, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. “Honda is striving for zero traffic collision fatalities involving our motorcycles and automobiles globally by 2050. We believe that SiLC’s advanced LiDAR technology will become an important technology for us. Honda continues to discover, collaborate with and invest in innovative startups like SiLC through our global open innovation program, Honda Xcelerator Ventures.”

Paving the Way to Safer Roads and Communities

Equipping vehicles with advanced AI vision capabilities that autonomously detect hazards, predict movements and prevent accidents can significantly enhance safety, efficiency, and reliability. This paves the way for a future where autonomous transportation becomes the norm, reducing traffic congestion and minimizing human error on the roads. Current technologies do not support these critical capabilities. For example, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) can fail to detect objects at longer distances in diverse environments. Rapid detection of moving objects and early determination of intent can lead to fast reaction times that could make the critical split-second difference between life and death.

To ensure safety and autonomy in all situations, the deployed vision systems must be powerful, efficient in computation, compact, scalable, and resilient to complex, unpredictable conditions, including interference from other systems. These requirements exclude existing time-of-flight-based solutions and highlight FMCW LiDAR as the ideal platform.
The FMCW LiDAR Advantage
SiLC is tackling several critical challenges in vehicle vision technology using high-performance FMCW LiDAR. Current radar and 2D/3D vision systems struggle with detecting dark objects, such as tires, at distances of a couple of hundred meters. They also have difficulty distinguishing between slow-moving and stationary vehicles for effective evasive actions. Most time-of-flight LiDARs suffer from interference caused by sunlight, retro reflectors, and other LiDAR systems. SiLC’s FMCW LiDAR overcomes these obstacles by detecting objects at distances of a kilometer or more with precise distance measurements and can measure the velocity of objects, allowing the system to predict their movements accurately.

As the global machine vision and robotics market continues to expand, SiLC’s innovations are poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of autonomous technology. The company’s Eyeonic Sensor and Vision System represent significant advancements in machine vision, providing machines with the information necessary to navigate and interact with the physical world effectively. These systems leverage FMCW LiDAR technology to equip machines with super-human vision capabilities, addressing the critical need for accurate, real-time perception in various sectors to enable the level of dexterity and hand-eye coordination needed for all tasks. SiLC is a performance leader in the market and offers the industry’s longest-range LiDAR and highest level of precision, setting a new benchmark in the field.

Dr. Mehdi Asghari, SiLC Technologies CEO, added, “This investment from Honda, the world’s largest mobility vehicle manufacturer, will accelerate our progress toward a society with fully autonomous solutions that enhance our safety and address our widely spread labor shortages across many critical markets. Our silicon photonics platform offers a powerful, low-cost, efficient and scalable FMCW LiDAR engine, which is essential for the high volumes required by the automotive industry. SiLC’s FMCW LiDAR solutions bring superior vision to machines to truly enable the next generation of AI-based automation and move us closer to a more intelligent, interconnected future.”

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About SiLC Technologies

On a mission to enable machines to see like humans, SiLC Technologies is enabling advanced AI-based machine vision. Bringing forth its deep expertise in silicon photonics, the company deploys FMCW LiDAR-based vision solutions. Notably, their breakthrough 4D+ Eyeonic Chip integrates all photonics functions needed to enable a coherent vision sensor, offering a tiny footprint while addressing the need for low cost and low power. SiLC’s innovations are targeted to robotics, mobility, perimeter security, industrial automation and other leading markets.

SiLC was founded in 2018 by silicon photonics industry veterans with decades of commercial product development and manufacturing experience. SiLC’s 4D LiDAR chip has been recognized by Frost & Sullivan as ideally positioned to disrupt the global LiDAR market and the company has been named a Cool Vendor in Silicon Photonics by Gartner. Investors in SiLC include Dell Technologies Capital, Sony Innovation Fund by IGV, FLUXUNIT – ams OSRAM Ventures, Alter Venture Partners and Epson.

For more information, visit www.silc.com or connect with the company on LinkedIn.

 

SiLC’s Eyeonic Vision Sensor Achieves Over 2km Detection Range, Empowering Advanced Perimeter Security Applications

SiLC’s Eyeonic Vision Sensor Achieves Over 2km Detection Range, Empowering Advanced Perimeter Security Applications

In Collaboration with High Point Aerotechnologies, SiLC’s Sensor to Enhance Counter-Uncrewed Autonomous Systems (C-UAS)

MONROVIA, Calif., December 7, 2023 – SiLC Technologies, Inc. (SiLC), a leader in the development of integrated single-chip FMCW LiDAR solutions, today announced a significant breakthrough in machine vision technology. The company’s Eyeonic Vision Sensor now boasts a detection range exceeding 2 kilometers, setting a new industry standard. This advancement not only doubles SiLC’s previous record but also surpasses the capabilities of any existing LiDAR system in the market. The extended range and precision of the Eyeonic Vision Sensor are pivotal in applications such as uncrewed autonomous system (UAS) detection and discrimination, a field where SiLC collaborates closely with High Point Aerotechnologies (HPA).
Dr. Jeff Maas, CTO of High Point Aerotechnologies, commented, “SiLC has made tremendous strides in advancing LiDAR technology for perimeter security and drone detection. Their investments in extending range, polarimetry, waveform control, and optical signal processing for the Eyeonic Vision Sensor endeavors to enhance target differentiation of ambiguous targets in clutter-limited environments. This LiDAR technology is a crucial complement to radar and visible/infrared camera sensors.”
Dr. Mehdi Asghari, CEO of SiLC Technologies, added, “Our latest achievement with the Eyeonic Vision Sensor is not just about setting new records; it’s about enabling practical, real-world applications that require the highest levels of precision and reliability. Our collaboration with HPA to incorporate LiDAR into their Counter-UAS systems is a testament to the versatility and impact of our technology.”
SiLC’s Eyeonic Vision Sensor, featuring an advanced FMCW LiDAR System-on-Chip (SoC), is a cornerstone of the company’s innovative approach to machine vision. Its capabilities are crucial for applications requiring advanced warning and detailed environmental understanding, such as in perimeter security and drone detection.
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CES 2024 – Las Vegas

Next month at CES 2024, SiLC will demonstrate the Eyeonic Vision Sensor’s industry-leading range and precision capabilities from January 9-12 in Las Vegas. Please contact SiLC at contact@SiLC.com for more information or to schedule an appointment.

To learn more please visit www.silc.com.

SiLC’s mission to enable machines to see like humans is the driving force for the company, where the goal is to equip machines with vision that far surpasses human capabilities. “We’ve logged in milestone achievements in chip integration, precision and resolution performance, range detection, and customer engagement,” added Asghari. “Moving forward, this new funding will help to further fuel our march to bring advanced machine vision to a broader range of applications.”

 

For more information, please visit www.silc.com.

About High Point Aerotechnologies High Point Aerotechnologies is a global leader in counter-uncrewed autonomous systems (CUxS / CUAS) solution development across air, land, and maritime domains. Its innovative physical solutions and DefenseOS open architecture software environment enable operations at machine speed to detect, identify, track, and defeat UAS and other conventional and autonomous threats. High Point offers an array of integrated, interoperable solutions to provide fixed, mobile, and distributed C-UAS capabilities for civilian, military, and critical infrastructure clients. Formed through the merger of Black Sage Technologies and Liteye Systems, High Point has active C-UAS solution deployments in more than 15 countries worldwide. Learn more at www.highpointaerotech.com.

About SiLC Technologies 

On a mission to enable machines to see like humans, SiLC Technologies is bringing forth its deep expertise in silicon photonics to advance market deployment of FMCW LiDAR solutions. The company’s breakthrough 4D+ Eyeonic Chip integrates all photonics functions needed to enable a coherent vision sensor, offering a tiny footprint while addressing the need for low cost and low power. SiLC’s innovations are targeted to robotics, autonomous vehicles, biometrics, security, industrial automation and other leading markets.

SiLC was founded in 2018 by silicon photonics industry veterans with decades of commercial product development and manufacturing experience. SiLC’s 4D LiDAR chip has been recognized by Frost & Sullivan as ideally positioned to disrupt the global LiDAR market and the company has been named a Cool Vendor in Silicon Photonics by Gartner. Investors in SiLC include Dell Technology Capital, Sony Innovation Fund by IGV, FLUXUNIT – ams OSRAM Ventures, UMC Capital, Alter Ventures and Epson.

For more information, visit www.silc.com or connect with the company on LinkedIn. 
greater 2km detection range graphic for Eyeonic Vision Sensor from SiLC

SiLC Secures $25 Million in Additional Funding to Advance Machine Vision for AI Applications

SiLC Secures $25 Million in Additional Funding to Advance Machine Vision for AI Applications

SiLC Secures $25 Million in Additional Funding to Advance Machine Vision for AI Applications

MONROVIA, Calif., November 15, 2023 – SiLC Technologies, Inc. (SiLC), a leader in silicon photonics, today announced $25 million in additional funding to bring the total funding proceeds to date, from its Seed and Series A, to $56 million. New strategic participants in the round include Hokuyo Automatic, Hankook & Company, and ROHM Semiconductor, all industry leaders with a strategic focus on industrial, robotics, and mobility vision. They join SiLC’s roster of existing high-caliber investors including Epson, Yamato, UMC, Sony, Dell Technologies Capital and Alter Venture Partners.

The new funding announcement comes on the heels of SiLC’s most recent introduction of four versions of its FMCW LiDAR-based EyeonicTM Vision System. Bridging the artificial intelligence (AI) gap for machine vision, SiLC has engineered the Eyeonic Vision System for vision detection capabilities that span from short distances to over 1 km. The company points to AI as a driving factor for machines requiring the ability to perceive and understand their surroundings in the same way as humans.

“We have significant momentum and support from our customer base, which is recognized by our world-class syndicate of investors. This shows that a genuinely differentiated technology that is proven to work and adds real value will get support from its investor and customer base,” said Dr. Mehdi Asghari, SiLC’s CEO and founder. “Even in today’s economic climate we have nearly doubled our total fund raise. We are excited to have such notable industry leaders join us on our journey.”

The new funds will be used to expand production to support design wins for its Eyeonic Vision solutions as well as continued product development to further application deployments in mobility, robotics, smart cameras, security, and other leading markets.

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“SiLC’s on-chip FMCW LiDAR is very competitive in terms of sensor performance, chip integration and manufacturing know-how. We expect this technology to be applied in various industries in the future, such as industrial robots, autonomous vehicles, ADAS, and AR/VR wearable consumer devices,” said Sumio Utsunomiya, COO, Epson X Investment Corp.

“Silicon photonics is key for the miniaturization of 3D sensors, while FMCW LiDAR enables the use of eye-safe wavelengths, provides instantaneous velocity, and removes the need for high-power lasers to reach long distances. The combination of these two techniques, as SiLC is demonstrating, will soon enable every electronic device, including drones, robots, and wearable devices, to be aware of its surroundings,” commented Dr. Jose Pozo, CTO of Optica, the society advancing optics and photonics worldwide.

SiLC’s mission to enable machines to see like humans is the driving force for the company, where the goal is to equip machines with vision that far surpasses human capabilities. “We’ve logged in milestone achievements in chip integration, precision and resolution performance, range detection, and customer engagement,” added Asghari. “Moving forward, this new funding will help to further fuel our march to bring advanced machine vision to a broader range of applications.”

 

For more information, please visit www.silc.com.

About SiLC Technologies 

On a mission to enable machines to see like humans, SiLC Technologies is bringing forth its deep expertise in silicon photonics to advance market deployment of FMCW LiDAR solutions. The company’s breakthrough 4D+ EyeonicTM Chip integrates all photonics functions needed to enable a coherent vision sensor, offering a tiny footprint while addressing the need for low cost and low power. SiLC’s innovations are targeted to robotics, autonomous vehicles, biometrics, security, industrial automation and other leading markets.

SiLC was founded in 2018 by silicon photonics industry veterans with decades of commercial product development and manufacturing experience. SiLC’s 4D LiDAR chip has been recognized by Frost & Sullivan as ideally positioned to disrupt the global LiDAR market and the company has been named a Cool Vendor in Silicon Photonics by Gartner. Investors in SiLC include Dell Technology Capital, Sony Innovation Fund by IGV, FLUXUNIT – ams OSRAM Ventures, UMC Capital, Alter Ventures and Epson.

For more information, visit www.silc.com or connect with the company on LinkedIn.
robotic vision sensor from SiLC receives additional funding

SiLC Technologies Advances Machine Vision, Bridging the AI Gap with Bionic Vision

SiLC Technologies Advances Machine Vision, Bridging the AI Gap with Bionic Vision

Unveils Four Tailored Versions of Its Eyeonic Vision System for Applications Requiring Vision that Ranges from Short to Ultra-Long Distances

MONROVIA, Calif., October 4, 2023 – In a world increasingly driven by artificial intelligence (AI), the need for machines to perceive and understand their surroundings in the same way as humans has never been more pressing. Addressing this need, SiLC Technologies (SiLC), a leader in silicon photonics, today announces the availability of four specialized EyeonicTM Vision Systems. Engineered for vision detection capabilities that span from short distances to over 1,250 meters, these systems utilize FMCW LiDAR technology to meet the diverse application needs across various sectors.

Current machine vision systems largely rely on camera systems that capture a mere snapshot of the available data. This necessitates resource-intensive computing to compensate for the missing pieces and inherently falls short of genuine vision

Introduced last year, the Eyeonic Vision System delivers unparalleled vision perception to machines – offering not only the capability to identify objects even beyond a kilometer away but also providing per-pixel velocity and polarization information, unprecedented precision, and interference-free operation

“Since the launch of the Eyeonic Vision System, our collaboration with various OEMs revealed distinct vision requirements, necessitating multiple versions of our solution,” said Mehdi Asghari, SiLC founder and CEO.

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SiLC’s refined Eyeonic Vision System portfolio includes:

  • Short Range – Designed for vision detection up to 50 meters, this version is ideal for AI machine vision tasks requiring high precision, such as pallet and truck loading or product inspection.

  • Medium Range – For vision detection up to 150 meters, suited to home security and factory automation applications.

  • Long Range – Providing vision detection up to 300 meters, this version is tailored for ADAS and autonomous vehicles.

  • Ultra-Long Range – For vision detection that exceeds 1,250 meters and is targeted to drone tracking, perimeter security and airplane ground control.

To date, SiLC is the only company that has built a chip-integrated FMCW LiDAR solution, which is critical for machine vision to emulate the human eye. “Our mission is to change the current state of machine vision, empowering the next generation of machines to integrate seamlessly into our society,” added Asghari. “As AI continues its upward trajectory, SiLC is poised to further innovate in response to market demand. The Eyeonic Vision System is just the start. We’re focused on enhancing angular resolution and embedding solid-state scanning into our single-chip solution.”

All Eyeonic Vision System variants feature the company’s unique technology benefits: robust, compact, scalable, and unaffected by complex, unpredictable environments, conditions, and interferences. Each Eyeonic Vision System variant provides highly precise range, velocity, and polarization modes. With the global machine vision and robotics market forecasted to soar to $12 billion by 2030, SiLC’s solutions are set to reshape industries from autonomous vehicles to augmented reality.

Pricing and Availability

SiLC’s Eyeonic Vision System – in all four variants – is immediately available and shipping worldwide. Pricing varies depending on configuration. For detailed information and specifications, please contact SiLC at sales@silc.com. To learn more about the company, please visit www.silc.com.

About SiLC Technologies 

On a mission to enable machines to see like humans, SiLC Technologies is bringing forth its deep expertise in silicon photonics to advance market deployment of FMCW LiDAR solutions. The company’s breakthrough 4D+ EyeonicTM Chip integrates all photonics functions needed to enable a coherent vision sensor, offering a tiny footprint while addressing the need for low cost and low power. SiLC’s innovations are targeted to robotics, autonomous vehicles, biometrics, security, industrial automation and other leading markets.

SiLC was founded in 2018 by silicon photonics industry veterans with decades of commercial product development and manufacturing experience. SiLC’s 4D LiDAR chip has been recognized by Frost & Sullivan as ideally positioned to disrupt the global LiDAR market and the company has been named a Cool Vendor in Silicon Photonics by Gartner. Investors in SiLC include Dell Technology Capital, Sony Innovation Fund by IGV, FLUXUNIT – ams OSRAM Ventures, UMC Capital, Alter Ventures and Epson.

For more information, visit www.silc.com or connect with the company on LinkedIn.

4 Eyeonic Vision Systems from SiLC, a leading edge LiDAR company

SiLC Technologies Launches Industry’s Most Compact, Powerful Coherent Machine Vision Solution

SiLC Technologies Launches Industry’s Most Compact, Powerful Coherent Machine Vision Solution

Eyeonic Vision System Leapfrogs Conventional LiDAR Offerings with Ultra-Long-Range Visibility and Unparalleled Performance; Live Demonstrations Set for CES 2023
MONROVIA, Calif., December 7, 2022 – SiLC Technologies, Inc. (SiLC), recognized for advancing the state of machine vision, today announced the launch of the EyeonicTM Vision System, the industry’s most compact and powerful coherent vision system. The new system features the highest resolution, highest precision and longest range while remaining the only FMCW LiDAR solution to offer polarization information.

The Eyeonic Vision System integrates the company’s unique photonics technology into the industry’s first available turnkey vision solution – a highly flexible subsystem that reduces time to market for manufacturers seeking to incorporate machine vision into their products. Targeted to robotics, autonomous vehicles, smart cameras and other advanced products, the Eyeonic Vision System sets a new benchmark, delivering the highest levels of vision perception to identify and avoid objects with very low latency, even at distances of greater than 1 kilometer.

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“Our goal is to change the status quo for machine vision,” said Mehdi Asghari, SiLC founder and CEO. “When bringing vision to machines the criticality of ranging precision, direct monitoring of motion through instantaneous velocity, spatial resolution for recognition of fine features and polarization for material detection cannot be understated. For machines to augment our lives they must have a vision solution that is powerful, compact, scalable, and unaffected by environmental conditions including interference from other systems. Our groundbreaking technology will empower the next generation of machine vision applications with bionic vision that will exceed that of humans and yet be compact, cost effective and power efficient.” 

At the heart of the Eyeonic Vision System is the company’s fully integrated silicon photonics chip. With roughly 10 milli-degrees of angular resolution coupled with mm-level precision, it provides more than 10x the definition and precision of legacy LiDAR offerings. This enables the Eyeonic Vision Sensor to measure the shape and distance of objects with high precision at great distances.

The new Vision System couples the Eyeonic Vision Sensor and a digital processing solution based on a powerful FPGA. The compact, flexible architecture of the new system enables synchronization of multiple vision sensors for unlimited points/second. The Eyeonic Vision System is highly versatile – supporting multiple scanner options and providing customers with the flexibility to tailor their designs to maximize performance for distance and field of vision for their application. It is accompanied by a broad range of accessories.

CES 2023 – Eyeonic Vision System Demonstrations and Accolades

 

Next month at CES 2023 in Las Vegas, SiLC will be giving live Eyeonic Vision System demonstrations. Tipping their hats to SiLC’s technological achievement, the CES award committee has named the Eyeonic Vision System an Honoree for the prestigious CES Innovation Award.

“At CES we’re showing the industry’s most powerful system, and it is shipping to strategic customers,” added Asghari. “SiLC is poised to accelerate time to market for leaders in the machine vision arena looking to bring unparalleled vision to their applications in the future.”

Pricing and Availability

 

The Eyeonic Vision System is immediately available and shipping worldwide. Pricing varies depending on configuration. To inquire about pricing and customization please contact SiLC at sales@silc.com.

To learn more please visit www.silc.com.

About SiLC Technologies 

 

On a mission to enable machines to see like humans, SiLC Technologies is bringing forth its deep expertise in silicon photonics to advance market deployment of FMCW LiDAR solutions. The company’s breakthrough 4D+ Eyeonic Chip integrates all photonics functions needed to enable a coherent vision sensor, offering a tiny footprint while addressing the need for low cost and low power. SiLC’s innovations are targeted to robotics, autonomous vehicles, biometrics, security, industrial automation and other leading markets.

 

SiLC was founded in 2018 by silicon photonics industry veterans with decades of commercial product development and manufacturing experience. SiLC’s 4D LiDAR chip has been recognized by Frost & Sullivan as ideally positioned to disrupt the global LiDAR market and the company has been named a Cool Vendor in Silicon Photonics by Gartner. Investors in SiLC include Dell Technology Capital, Sony Innovation Fund by IGV, FLUXUNIT – ams OSRAM Ventures, UMC Capital, Alter Ventures and Epson.

For more information, visit www.silc.com or connect with the company on LinkedIn. 

SiLC machine vision solution

What People
Are Saying

SiLC’s technology is a game changer, their solution enables legacy based LiDAR’s transition towards FMCW, their highly integrated solution enables scalability and shrink-ability and at scale
Kris PengUMC Capital
Building on its silicon photonics expertise, the SiLC team takes an innovative, fully solid-state approach to LiDAR. Its FMCW solution makes autonomy safer in various environments thanks to its long-range and high-resolution sensing. Our investment in SiLC further expands our Mobility portfolio, and we look forward to SiLC growing its business across the automotive, robotics and industrial markets.
Gen TsuchikawaSony Innovation Fund
We are focused on advancing our position at the forefront of LiDAR technology, and thus understand the impact of SILC’s approach will have to enable human-like perception across autonomous driving, robotics, smart cameras and beyond.We are impressed by the team’s accomplishments in silicon photonics and the unprecedented level of integration and scalability of their FMCW chip, which will be key for broad adoption of coherent 3D sensing.
Sebastian StammFluxunit – OSRAM Ventures
4D LiDAR will provide longer range, higher precision, instantaneous velocity and interference-free operation. SiLC is the first company to integrate all of the laser, detectors and optical processing technology needed to create compact, viable solutions in the market. Our collaboration with SiLC enables us to jointly architect an FMCW LiDAR solution that extends Hokuyo's leadership and customer solutions.
Hitoshi OzakiPresident - Hokuyo Automatic Co