Ouster and QCraft Announce Recent Launch of Robobus Fleet in China Using Ouster Lidar Sensors
Ouster has announced the launch of QCraft's third fleet of robobuses equipped with Ouster's digital lidar sensors in Wuhan, China. These sensors enhance safety by eliminating blind spots. This deployment stems from a strategic agreement established in August 2020. QCraft aims to operate 100 autonomous buses in China by year-end, following previous successful launches in Suzhou and Shenzhen. The collaboration is poised to benefit both companies, with QCraft focusing on reducing costs and improving efficiency through advanced simulation technologies. Ouster is also preparing for its merger with Colonnade Acquisition Corp (CLA), set for March 9, 2021.
- Launch of QCraft's third fleet of robobuses in Wuhan enhances Ouster's market visibility.
- Strategic agreement with QCraft demonstrates long-term commitment and potential revenue.
- QCraft's plans for 100 autonomous buses signal growth in demand for Ouster's lidar technology.
- Ouster's lidar sensors improve safety by eliminating blind spots, increasing product appeal.
- Dependence on QCraft's success may expose Ouster to risks from its partner's operational challenges.
- Merger with Colonnade Acquisition Corp (CLA) still requires shareholder approval and customary closing conditions.
Ouster, Inc. (“Ouster”) a leading provider of high-resolution digital lidar sensors for the industrial automation, smart infrastructure, robotics, and automotive industries, and QCraft, a world-leading self-driving technology company, today announced the recent launch of QCraft’s third fleet of robobuses outfitted with Ouster lidar sensors in Wuhan, China.
An Ouster lidar sensor on a QCraft robobus (Photo: Business Wire)
Ouster’s high-performance digital lidar sensors are used in three locations on the bus, and help the bus eliminate blind spots with their wide field of view and high resolution. This deployment is the result of a multi-year strategic customer agreement entered into in August 2020.
QCraft is a leader in automating the world’s largest municipal busing market, having launched China's first regularly operated 5G robobus project in Suzhou, China followed by Shenzhen, China last year. QCraft plans to have at least 100 autonomous buses on open roads in China by the end of this year, with significant growth anticipated in the years ahead.
“QCraft is a pioneer in the autonomous public transportation market for shuttle buses, and we are all excited to watch their growth and progress in deploying their vehicles safely on public roads. Aided by the high performance and reliability of our digital lidar sensors, QCraft has a tremendous opportunity in front of them,” said Clement Kong, GM of Ouster’s Asia Pacific region.
QCraft is taking a unique approach to making self-driving cars fully autonomous by leveraging its large-scale intelligent simulation system and self-learning framework for vehicle decision-making and planning which enables QCraft to reduce test costs, significantly improve development efficiency, and guarantee solution scalability. Qcraft also announced a new round of financing which will be used to build an "automated production super factory" for autonomous vehicles.
"Ouster’s digital approach to lidar provides us with the high performance we need to deploy on public roads safely, as well as a clear path to reduce sensor costs, which is consistent with our goal of achieving large-scale commercial deployment," said YU Qian, co-founder and CEO of QCraft.
In December, Ouster entered into a definitive merger agreement with Colonnade Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: CLA)(“CLA”) in a transaction that would result in Ouster being listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “OUST”. CLA has scheduled the extraordinary general meeting of its shareholders for March 9, 2021 to approve the proposed business combination. The closing of the Business Combination is subject to approval by CLA’s shareholders and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions and is expected to close as soon as practicable following the extraordinary general meeting.
About Ouster
Ouster invented its digital lidar in 2015 and is a leading manufacturer of high-resolution digital lidar sensors used throughout the industrial automation, smart infrastructure, robotics, and automotive industries. Ouster’s sensors are reliable, compact, affordable and highly customizable, layi
FAQ
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