In the ongoing race to develop advanced driver-assistance systems and self-driving cars, Denso International America has invested in lidar-maker TriLumina (Albuquerque, NM), giving the smaller company greater access to the automotive market. TriLumina has developed eye-safe, vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) and is targeting lidar and driver monitoring systems, as well as depth sensing and gesture control for industrial robotics, and commercial and consumer electronics.
"It's critical to work with leading Tier 1 suppliers like Denso as we introduce and deploy technology that will shape the automotive industry for years to come. It's a tremendous endorsement of our technology to have Denso engage as one of our Tier 1 partners, work with us to become qualified, and help fuel development," said Kirk Otis, CEO of TriLumina. In October 2015, Catepillar Ventures invested in TriLumina.
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Denso's Silicon Valley office actively works with startup companies, and through these types of partnerships expects to gain access to new technologies in the areas of autonomous drive, electric vehicles, transportation, batteries, and energy storage while also expanding Denso's overall presence within entrepreneurial networks. Denso Corp. (Kariya, Japan) is a leading global automotive supplier of advanced technology, systems, and components.
Source: TriLumina