The application with the largest market potential was laser-based (LIDAR) sensing of range and closing speed for automobiles and other vehicles. LIDAR and microwave (RADAR) sensing systems are already under active development. SRI professionals compared the technical and market advantages of the LIDAR and RADAR technologies. Of equal business importance is the evolution of customer acceptance, government regulations, and resolution of liability issues for collision avoidance, collision warning, and autonomous intelligent cruise control applications.
Additional nonautomotive applications and markets were considered, including aircraft and helicopter obstacle detection, lasers in vision sensors, laser-based materiels processing, laser-based medical equipment, wireless communications, and other applications of rangefinding.
The overall conclusion of the SRI study was that the proposed new laser driver technology offered at most marginal advantages in the applications investigated and thus a limited market opportunity. SRI advised that the Client should proceed with caution.
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