Company: LIDRW
Filing Date: 2025-02-24
Form Type: 10-K
Source: 0001437749-25-004906
Chunk: 8

Company: AEye, Inc.
Filing Date: 2025-02-24
Form: 10-K
Item: Item 1
Chunk 8
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ar solutions, and some of these solutions may use a similar wavelength or scanning methodology. For example, we and at least two of our major competitors use lasers that have a 1550nm wavelength. Other competitors use MEMS-based scanning technologies, but we believe our MEMS solution is uniquely robust due its very small size and high resonant frequency. In addition to companies focused specifically on developing lidar solutions, we also face competition from current or potential partners and customers that may be developing lidar solutions internally. We believe that many of the other companies developing lidar solutions are focused on shorter-range sensors that passively collect data, and most of these sensors utilize 905nm lasers that limit their performance. We believe that we are differentiated from competitors by virtue of our ultra long-range performance, coupled with high resolution and software-based customization of scanning, and a compact form factor suitable for a variety of integrations. This is possible, in part, because we utilize 1550nm lasers that enable our lidar solutions to achieve a higher photon budget than many of our competitors that rely upon 905nm lasers. Our channel-based model with Tier 1 automotive suppliers also enable us to uniquely capitalize on Tier 1 supply chain leverage. As a result, we believe that we are able to compete favorably on product cost in the lidar market, particularly in market segments such as passenger vehicle ADAS highway pilot applications that can benefit from our active, long-range, high-resolution capabilities.

We believe that our modular, patented design, our embedded deterministic artificial intelligence, which is inherently enabled by our unique product, and our strong R&D capabilities will enable us to remain a technology leader in the lidar market.

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Research and Development

We have made substantial investments into our R&D efforts historically, but with a reduced workforce and consolidated global footprint, we plan to be more focused on investments that support our strategy and product development goals in the near-term. We believe that this is essential to maintain our position as a provider of one of the most advanced lidar solutions in the market. While our R&D activities occur primarily at our headquarters in Pleasanton, California, we work with technology developers on a worldwide basis. Our engineers located in Pleasanton, California focus on developing sensor hardware, firmware, and software.

Our R&D team is responsible for both developing new technology, as well as enhancing the capabilities and performance of our lidar hardware, firmware, and software. Our R&D team also has responsibility for identifying, defining, and prototyping advanced components that