Detectors & Imaging

Baidu selects ON Semiconductor CMOS sensors for autonomous vehicle platform

Jan. 3, 2018

ON Semiconductor is collaborating with Baidu on the Baidu Apollo Autonomous Driving Platform.

ON Semiconductor (Nasdaq: ON; Phoenix, AZ) is collaborating with Baidu (Nasdaq: BIDU; Beijing, China) on the Baidu Apollo Autonomous Driving Platform. Baidu says it is the leading Chinese language Internet search provider. Through this collaboration, ecosystem partners can get the plug-and-play compatible imaging solutions jointly developed by both companies. Apollo provides an open source, reliable software and hardware system, enabling the efficient development of autonomous driving systems by automotive systems designers. Image sensing is a key component of the Apollo platform that supports enhanced autonomous driving functionality.

In addition to simplified and accelerated design, test and implementation of automotive camera applications, the relationship gives Apollo ecosystem members priority access to ON Semiconductor's technical support and product information. All Apollo partners will also get early opportunities to work with future generation, breakthrough image sensing technologies from ON Semiconductor.

"Given the importance of cameras as sensors for autonomous driving, we considered many aspects in our selection process for the Apollo platform including product roadmap, experience in automotive, and technical support for ecosystem platforms," said Zhenyu Li, VP and GM of the Intelligent Driving Group at Baidu. "ON Semiconductor was the right choice for Apollo platform image sensor needs."

ON Semiconductor's fully-qualified 3 micron-based CMOS image sensor product provides a foundation to allow customers immediately begin development of vision systems for autonomous driving, with the flexibility to move to future sensors at volume deployment. With high dynamic range (HDR), the sensor is able to provide crisp, clear single images and video in the challenging low and mixed light scenes synonymous with automotive environments.

Ross Jatou, VP and GM of the Automotive Solutions Group at ON Semiconductor said, "Image sensors are fundamental components of ADAS implementations throughout the vehicle, and they will become even more relevant as the industry moves towards fully autonomous cars. Joining forces with Baidu by providing the image sensor solution for the Apollo platform is further validation of ON Semiconductor’s leading position in automotive image sensing."

The first list of China Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovation platform was announced by the China government on November 15, 2017, and Baidu was commissioned to build a new, open innovation platform for autonomous driving as part of the country's next-generation AI platform.

SOURCE: ON Semiconductor; http://www.onsemi.com/PowerSolutions/newsItem.do?article=3933

About the Author

Gail Overton | Senior Editor (2004-2020)

Gail has more than 30 years of engineering, marketing, product management, and editorial experience in the photonics and optical communications industry. Before joining the staff at Laser Focus World in 2004, she held many product management and product marketing roles in the fiber-optics industry, most notably at Hughes (El Segundo, CA), GTE Labs (Waltham, MA), Corning (Corning, NY), Photon Kinetics (Beaverton, OR), and Newport Corporation (Irvine, CA). During her marketing career, Gail published articles in WDM Solutions and Sensors magazine and traveled internationally to conduct product and sales training. Gail received her BS degree in physics, with an emphasis in optics, from San Diego State University in San Diego, CA in May 1986.