Ouster Introduces Digital Flash Series Lidar for Automotive

Rhea-AI Summary

Ouster (NYSE: OUST) has launched the DF series, a suite of high-performance solid-state digital lidar sensors tailored for the automotive industry. This innovative platform promises reliability and affordability for automakers, with sensors designed for short, mid, and long-range applications. The DF series aims to meet stringent ADAS requirements and will begin consumer vehicle production in 2025. Ouster is currently shipping prototypes to OEMs and Tier 1 partners, positioning itself as a leading supplier in the lidar market.

Positive

• Launch of DF series, indicating product innovation and market expansion potential.
• Designed to meet automaker requirements for ADAS, enhancing its market position.
• No moving parts in DF series, ensuring high reliability and manufacturability.
• Expected availability for consumer vehicles in 2025, indicating future revenue opportunities.

Negative

• Dependence on third-party suppliers like Benchmark Electronics, posing risks to production.
• Limited operating history and a history of losses, raising concerns about financial stability.
• Market risks associated with the adoption of lidar technology and competition.

The digital flash (DF) series offers a suite of solid-state lidar sensors with the performance, reliability, and affordability needed for automotive series production

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ouster, Inc. (NYSE: OUST) (“Ouster” or the “Company”), a leading provider of high-resolution digital lidar sensors, introduced today the DF series, a flexible and scalable high-performance solid-state digital lidar platform for the automotive industry.

Ouster Automotive DF Series Solid-State Digital Lidar (Photo: Business Wire)

The DF series is a suite of short, mid, and long-range solid-state digital lidar sensors that provide uniform precision imaging without motion blur across an entire field of view. With absolutely no moving parts, the DF series is built for best-in-class reliability, durability, and affordability. The DF series is designed to meet automaker requirements for ADAS and automated driving, while seamlessly integrating into the vehicle architecture and design. Ouster expects to make the DF series available for consumer vehicles starting production in 2025. The Company is already shipping functional prototypes and samples to OEMs and Tier 1 partners.

Platform Capabilities

• Stunning 3D Data: The breakthrough solid-state flash architecture produces incredible high-resolution 3D point clouds up to 200 meters away for 10% reflective targets in full sunlight with no motion blur.

• Flexibility: The multi-sensor suite is a flexible platform that can be easily adapted to different form-factors and sensor configurations to provide varying ranges, fields of view, and vehicle design freedoms — all with a simple change in optics.
  • DF-0: Short-range sensor designed for vehicle cocoon coverage, traffic jam assist, and emerging self-parking applications.
  • DF-1: Mid-range sensor enabling wide angle coverage for L4 and L5 autonomous vehicle applications and for detecting cut ins and overhangs for L3+ automation.
  • DF-2: Long-range sensor for forward-facing L2 to L3 automated highway driving and safe collision avoidance.

• Scalability: Without a single moving part, the solid-state suite is designed to be highly manufacturable and offer the durability, reliability and affordability needed for automotive series production.

Ouster Automotive is offering individual solid-state sensors as well as a multi-sensor lidar suite at a price point that it expects will enable broad adoption in consumer vehicles. Ouster Automotive believes that it is uniquely positioned to deliver on OEM requirements with a single supplier offering, reducing overall costs and making it an ideal partner for both automotive OEMs and Tier 1s.

“The DF series combines the best of Ouster’s previous solid-state roadmap with the core technology of its recently acquired solid-state platform to deliver a multi-sensor product suite that provides even greater performance and affordability,” said Ouster Automotive President, Shauna McIntyre. “The vast majority of automotive OEMs we are in negotiations with are looking for a suite of lidar sensors, and as a one-stop-shop, we believe Ouster is the only company poised to meet those requirements.”

To learn more about Ouster Automotive and the DF series, visit ouster.com/industry/automotive/.

About Ouster

Ouster (NYSE: OUST) is a leading provider of high-resolution digital lidar sensors for the industrial, automotive, smart infrastructure, and robotics industries. Ouster products offer an excellent combination of price and performance and are built to a set of requirements that are flexible enough to span hundreds of use cases and enable revolutionary autonomy across industries. Ouster has approximately 600 customers in over 50 countries with offices in the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. For more information, visit www.ouster.com, or connect with us on Twitter or LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to, statements regarding the benefits of Ouster’s DF series, the ability to enable broad adoption of the DF series in consumer vehicles, and Ouster’s strategy and market positioning. Forward-looking statements give Ouster’s current expectations and projections relating to its financial condition, competitive position, future results of operations, plans, objectives, future orders and business. You can identify forward-looking statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements may include words such as “anticipate”, “estimate”, “expect”, “project”, “plan”, “intend”, “believe”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “can have”, “likely” and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of the timing or nature of future operating or financial performance or other events. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those that we expected, including: Ouster’s limited operating history and history of losses; the negotiating power and product standards of its customers; fluctuations in its operating results; cancellation or postponement of contracts or unsuccessful implementations; the adoption of its products and the growth of the lidar market generally; its ability to grow its sales and marketing organization; substantial research and development costs needed to develop and commercialize new products; the competitive environment in which it operates; selection of its products for inclusion in target markets; its future capital needs; its ability to use tax attributes; its dependence on key third party suppliers, in particular Benchmark Electronics, Inc., and manufacturers; ability to maintain inventory and the risk of inventory write-downs; inaccurate forecasts of market growth; its ability to manage growth; the creditworthiness of customers; risks related to acquisitions; risks related to international operations; risks of product delivery problems or defects; costs associated with product warranties; its ability to maintain competitive average selling prices or high sales volumes or reduce product costs; conditions in its customers industries; its ability to recruit and retain key personnel; its use of professional employer organizations; its ability to adequately protect and enforce its intellectual property rights; its ability to effectively respond to evolving regulations and standards; risks related to operating as a public company; risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic; and other important factors discussed in the Company’s final prospectus dated and filed with the SEC on August 19, 2021 (including filed amendments and supplements), and in other reports the Company files with or furnishes to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any such forward-looking statements represent management’s estimates and beliefs as of the date of this press release. While Ouster may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, other than as required by law, it disclaims any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause its views to change.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211104005436/en/

For Investors

Sarah Ewing

investors@ouster.io

For Media

Heather Shapiro

press@ouster.io

Source: Ouster, Inc.

FAQ

What is the significance of Ouster's DF series launch for OUST investors?

The launch of the DF series positions Ouster as a competitive player in the lidar market, potentially enhancing revenue prospects, which is significant for OUST investors.

When will the DF series be available for consumer vehicles?

Ouster expects the DF series to be available for consumer vehicles starting production in 2025.

What are the key features of the DF series by Ouster?

The DF series features solid-state sensors with no moving parts, offering reliability, scalability, and the ability to meet automaker requirements for advanced driving assistance systems.

How does Ouster's DF series compare to competitors in the lidar market?

Ouster's DF series is designed to offer a flexible and scalable solution that meets specific automaker requirements, positioning it favorably against competitors.

What risks does Ouster face with the DF series launch?

Ouster faces risks including reliance on third-party suppliers, market volatility in adopting lidar technologies, and ongoing financial performance challenges.