Published

Aurora Buys Lidar Specialist Blackmore

Silicon Valley-based self-driving-car startup Aurora Innovation Inc. has acquired Blackmore Sensors and Analytics Inc., a Montana-based developer of lidar sensors.

Share

Silicon Valley-based self-driving-car startup Aurora Innovation Inc. has acquired Blackmore Sensors and Analytics Inc., a Montana-based developer of lidar sensors. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.

Aurora plans to integrate Blackmore’s lidar into its self-driving system. Blackmore uses a frequency-modulated continuous wave technology that the company says is more precise and works better in severe weather conditions than more common amplitude wave lidar systems, which use short laser pulses.

Founded a decade ago to develop military applications, Blackmore attracted investments from BMW and Toyota last year. The company has about 70 employees.

Aurora was founded in late 2016 by former executives from Tesla, Uber and Google’s self-driving car program. The startup closed a $530 million second-round investment funding round in February, and has partnerships with Byton, Hyundai and Volkswagen.

RELATED CONTENT

  • Engineering the 2019 Jeep Cherokee

    The Jeep Cherokee, which was launched in its current manifestation as a model year 2014 vehicle, and which has just undergone a major refresh for MY 2019, is nothing if not a solid success.

  • GM Is Down with Diesels

    General Motors is one company that is clearly embracing the diesel engine.

  • Multiple Choices for Light, High-Performance Chassis

    How carbon fiber is utilized is as different as the vehicles on which it is used. From full carbon tubs to partial panels to welded steel tube sandwich structures, the only limitation is imagination.

Gardner Business Media - Strategic Business Solutions