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Velodyne Buys Mapping Tech Startup
Velodyne Lidar Inc. has acquired Mapper.ai, a 3-year-old San Francisco-based startup that specializes in mapping and localization software.
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Velodyne Lidar Inc. has acquired Mapper.ai, a 3-year-old San Francisco-based startup that specializes in mapping and localization software. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.
Mapper converts geographical data from third-party sources into digital maps that the company sells to customers on a subscription basis.
The company was founded in 2016 by Nikhil Naikal and Alonso Patron. Naikal is a robotics expert from University of California Berkeley and was part of Carnegie Mellon’s 2007 Darpa Grand Challenge Team, while Alonso Patron is a computer vision expert from Oxford University.
Velodyne says the acquisition will accelerate the development of directional view software for its Velarray lidar.
The company plans to integrate Mapper technology into lidar used for advanced driving assistance systems, autonomous passenger, commercial and agricultural vehicles, last-mile delivery services, security, smart cities, robotics and unmanned aerial vehicles.
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