Velodyne Lidar, Inc. has announced a multi-year sales agreement with Gatik, an industry leader in automating on-road transportation networks for B2B middle mile logistics. Gatik uses Velodyne’s lidar sensors as a key part of a fully redundant sensor suite to deliver goods safely and efficiently between micro-fulfilment centers, dark stores and retail locations – a logistics flow known as the middle mile. Gatik fulfills revenue-generating autonomous orders daily for multiple Fortune 500 customers in the US and Canada, including Walmart, reducing customer costs and keeping delivery times short.
Gatik uses Velodyne’s Alpha Prime and Ultra Puck lidar sensors to support short-haul logistics with precise, reliable navigation for real-time autonomous operations. Gatik operates a fleet of Class 3-6 trucks, equipped with multi-temperature compartments, seven days a week, 12 hours a day, on routes up to 300 miles in multiple markets across North America. Gatik’s solution helps retailers meet consumer demand for rapid delivery of goods driven by soaring e-commerce growth, increase road safety for all road users and help customers meet an unprecedented expectation for contactless delivery.
“Velodyne’s sensor solutions have the proven performance, reliability and resilience our AVs need to operate safely and efficiently in complex urban operational design domains,” said Arjun Narang, co-founder and chief technology officer, Gatik. “We’re excited to be rapidly scaling our autonomous solution with the support of Velodyne’s industry-leading lidar technology.”
“Gatik is bringing autonomous delivery into the mainstream and creating significant efficiencies in supply chain logistics for retailers. It may be an eye-opener for many people to learn that Gatik’s AVs using Velodyne’s sensors were likely involved in delivering some of the goods they are using in their homes,” said Anand Gopalan, CEO, Velodyne Lidar. “They are demonstrating how Velodyne sensors help AVs provide efficient and safe movement of goods.”
Velodyne’s Alpha Prime and Ultra Puck sensors, which use Velodyne’s patented 3-D surround view technology, provide real-time object detection needed for safe navigation and reliable operation. The sensors provide the range, accuracy and resolution that make them ideal solutions for autonomous logistics services. They detect and track vehicles, pedestrians and other obstructions to help autonomous vehicles safely navigate at various speeds, traveling night and day in a range of road conditions such as rain, sleet and snow.
