MONROVIA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SiLC Technologies, Inc. (SiLC), the leading developer of integrated single-chip FMCW LiDAR solutions, today announced the launch of Eyeonic® Trace, its revolutionary Class 1 Laser Line Scanner capable of dimensioning objects with extreme accuracy, even from distances up to 10 meters. Targeted to industrial automation applications, the new Eyeonic Trace is an all-in-one inspection and measurement tool for objects moving on conveyor belts, bucket elevators and assembly lines or being scanned by a robotic arm.
The market for industrial and robotics solutions that are autonomous and capable of sub-millimeter precision is on the rise. Warehouse automation is a pressing need as the persistent drop in working age population in the past two decades has left many organizations short staffed and challenged to meet operational efficiency levels. Autonomous solutions with human-like vision can enable the next wave in industrial automation for applications that require high levels of dexterity, precision and hand-eye coordination.
“What we’re seeing in mobility related to machine vision that is human-like and predictive is following suit in industrial automation, warehouse operations, robotics and manufacturing,” said Dr. Mehdi Asghari, CEO of SiLC Technologies. “The new Eyeonic Trace Laser Line Scanner provides better depth precision than the human eye. Not only does our Eyeonic Trace measure objects with great precision, but the laser is also Class 1 eye safe, which means that factory workers can use it without the constraints of a ‘Keep Out’ area or ‘Special Eye Protection Required’ mandate.”
The Eyeonic Trace marks SiLC’s first entry into offering a turnkey, fully integrated product. Until now, SiLC has provided technology solutions as key components to strategic customers that integrate it into their own product lines. This expansion in SiLC’s business model is by popular demand and enables the company to access a broader range of customers who do not have their own product integration capability.
At the core of the Eyeonic Trace design is the company’s Eyeonic Vision Sensor with a highly integrated silicon photonics chip containing low-loss waveguides, coherent detection, semiconductor optical amplifiers and other photonic functions. In addition, the laser in the Eyeonic Trace is very low power and meets the Class 1 laser specifications, meaning that it is eye safe when deployed in any automation application. The scanner has a wide 72⁰ field of view to allow for measurement of large objects. Measuring only 200 x 135 x 75 millimeters, the Eyeonic Trace easily mounts above a conveyor belt, assembly line, or on the side of a robotic arm.
Higher Resolution and Wider Field of View
“FMCW LiDAR offers more resolution, which is a huge advantage in automation,” remarked Harvey Weinberg, Director of Sensor Technologies at Microtech Ventures, a global firm focused on M&A, investments, and business development for sensors, MEMS, and microtechnology companies. “Scanning packages passing at a high speed on a conveyor belt, requires a scanner with quick response time, millimeter accuracy, wide field of view, and a long operating range. The Eyeonic Trace is the industry’s first scanner to meet this challenge.”
The long operating range means that the Eyeonic Trace scanner can be placed two or three meters above a conveyor belt to measure large boxes and still accurately measure items as small as a few centimeters tall. In fact, the scanner can provide millimeter measurement precision from as far as 10 meters away.
Key Features of the Eyeonic Trace
- Unparalleled Measurement Accuracy: Measures depth of objects with millimeter precision (1/32 inch) from 10 cm to 10 m distances.
- Exceptional Flexibility: Operates effectively across a wide dynamic range, accommodating objects with diverse reflective properties.
- Ambient Light Immunity: Functions reliably indoors (dim warehouses) or outdoors (bright sunlight); the scanner is unaffected by ambient light.
- Unmatched Performance: Setting a new standard, the Eyeonic Trace surpasses existing line scanner products, standing alone in its class.
SiLC will be featuring its new Eyeonic Trace Laser Line Scanner at the most powerful tech event in the world, the CES 2025 show in Las Vegas from January 7-10th. Please email contact@silc.com to schedule a meeting.
Eyeonic Trace Availability
Samples of the Eyeonic Trace will be available in Q2 2025, with production scheduled for the second half of 2025.
About SiLC Technologies
On a mission to enable machines to see like humans, SiLC Technologies is enabling advanced AI-based machine vision. Bringing forth its deep expertise in silicon photonics, the company deploys FMCW LiDAR-based vision solutions. Notably, their breakthrough 4D+ Eyeonic Chip integrates all photonics functions needed to enable a coherent vision sensor, offering a tiny footprint while addressing the need for low cost and low power. SiLC's innovations are targeted to robotics, mobility, perimeter security, industrial automation and other leading markets.
SiLC was founded in 2018 by silicon photonics industry veterans with decades of commercial product development and manufacturing experience. SiLC's 4D LiDAR chip has been recognized by Frost & Sullivan as ideally positioned to disrupt the global LiDAR market and the company has been named a Cool Vendor in Silicon Photonics by Gartner. Investors in SiLC include Dell Technology Capital, Sony Innovation Fund by IGV, FLUXUNIT – ams OSRAM Ventures, Alter Ventures and Epson.
For more information, visit www.silc.com or connect with the company on LinkedIn.
