NEXT Semiconductor Unveils Full-Waveform LiDAR Processor SoC
NEXT Semiconductor Technologies has announced the availability of its NXLR1 LiDAR Processor Unit (LPU), a digital LiDAR system-on-chip designed for automotive advanced driver-assistance systems and autonomous vehicles, according to a press release.
The NXLR1 integrates 12 channels of 16-bit analog-to-digital converters, each sampling at up to 2 billion samples per second, with proprietary Full Waveform Capture pulse processing on a single chip. The processor controls laser pulse firing, digitizes the full return signals, and provides processed metadata to downstream systems via high-speed serial links.
The SoC offers up to ten times greater power efficiency and cost advantages over FPGA-based platforms. It aims to improve long-range LiDAR perception while reducing the processing load on AI systems used in autonomous navigation.
Evaluation systems for the NXLR1 are available now, with engineering samples expected in the first quarter of 2026.
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