David Hall (businessman)

David S. Hall (born 1951) is an American businessman and entrepreneur who is the inventor of lidar technology for robotics and autonomous vehicles. He holds more than 75 U.S. patents in lidar technology. Hall has been awarded 2018 Inventor of the Year by Intellectual Property Owners Smithsonian Educational Foundation.
==Background==
Hall was born in 1951 in Connecticut. He received his engineering degree at the Case Western Reserve University. 
==Career==
====Velodyne Acoustics LLC====
Hall founded Velodyne Acoustics in 1983, an audio company focusing on low-frequency sound and subwoofer technology. The invention incorporated a patented accelerometer-based high-gain servo system. The result was a speaker that had lower distortion values in the lower (bass) range of sound. The acoustics business was sold in 2019.
====Robotics and Velodyne Lidar Inc.====
Hall created a robot for the first season of cable show Robot Wars in 1998 and participated in the DARPA Challenges in 2004 and 2005. Facing navigation problems in the 2004 DARPA race, in 2005, he invented 3-D LiDAR sensor technology for advanced safety and performance of autonomous vehicles, and filed a patent for a multi-beam spinning lidar sensor in 2006. 
In 2016, Hall spun off the lidar division of Velodyne Acoustics to become Velodyne Lidar Inc., a lidar technology company. He served as the CEO and was responsible for the company’s growth and expansion to supply its sensors to every technology and auto company that is building or testing autonomous vehicles. At that time, he owned 90% of Velodyne Lidar Inc. and led many partnerships and investments for the company. He also started the fully automated factory in San Jose in 2017. 
In 2020, Velodyne Lidar became a public company through a SPAC. In January, 2021 Hall stepped down from Executive Chairman of the Board after being prevented from making business and technical decisions. He continued to serve on the board until March, 2021, when his Chair position was replaced and Hall resigned. In March, 2021, a Securities Fraud Class Action Lawsuit was filed against VLDR. Hall launched Halls vs Vetter, in January, 2022 alleging conspiracy to commit fraud. In 2022, David Hall sold all of his shares in VLDR.
====Servo Yachts====
In 2011, Hall launched Servo Yachts LLC, introducing a self-stabilizing craft with active suspension to counter seasickness. A demonstration craft called the Martini, was introduced at the 2013 Miami, Florida. The electric suspension system developed by Hall connects the yacht's structure to two dynamic hulls which adjust to the height and angle of the waves, keeping the deck in a level position.
====Shoot the Moon Rocket Technologies Inc====
In 2021, Hall started Shoot the Moon Rocket Technologies Inc. in Alameda, California. The company is in the research and development stage investigating electric and magnetic powered rocketry.
==Awards and recognition==
Hall was awarded as Inventor of the Year in 2018 by Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation. 
Category:1951 births
Category:American people	
Category:Case Western Reserve University alumni	
Category:Businesspeople
Category:Entrepreneurs