Clearpath Robotics, a division of Rockwell Automation, stands as a global leader in unmanned vehicle robotics, driving innovation in research and development across a range of sectors—from mining and military to agriculture and aerospace. Known for their adaptable mobile robotics platforms, Clearpath collaborates with over 500 pioneering organizations worldwide.

Their partnership with Seyond showcases a strategic approach to expanding the capabilities of their robotics solutions, particularly in rugged and challenging environments. Leveraging Seyond’s Robin W LiDAR, Clearpath is setting a new standard in obstacle detection and precision navigation, empowering their robots to tackle complex terrains with enhanced accuracy and reliability.

This Q&A dives into how this collaboration is transforming mobile robotics and what it means for the future of automation:

Seyond: How did the collaboration between Clearpath Robotics and Seyond come about? 

Clearpath Robotics: Interestingly, we reconnected with a former Clearpath colleague now at Seyond, who reached out to discuss the Falcon LiDAR. Shortly after, they provided us with a Robin W LiDAR for testing. While both systems offer excellent performance, the Robin W quickly emerged as a promising solution to tackle directional LiDAR challenges for robotics.

Seyond: What specific challenges or goals led Clearpath Robotics to seek Seyond’s LiDAR solutions? 

Clearpath Robotics: We sought a higher-resolution LiDAR that was ideal for rugged terrain, particularly suited for ground vehicles. The Robin W delivers outstanding directional scanning capabilities, making it an ideal addition to enhance our obstacle detection sensor suite.

Seyond: Can you provide an overview of Clearpath Robotics’ key products and services that are enhanced by Seyond’s LiDAR?

Clearpath Robotics: A core service at Clearpath Robotics is delivering custom integrations for our base mobile platforms. In designing and building these robots, we draw from a broad array of sensors, devices, and components. Among these, Seyond’s LiDARs play a key role, with the Robin W featured as a standard upgrade option for our latest robot, the Husky A300.

Seyond: What unique features of Seyond make it a great choice for Clearpath Robotics? 

Clearpath Robotics: Seyond’s Robin W stands out as an exceptional choice for directional LiDAR needs, offering high-resolution data ideal for mapping and obstacle detection. Its compact size allows for integration onto even our smallest platforms, and its quality at this price point is unmatched.

Seyond: How does Seyond’s LiDAR technology improve the precision and efficiency of Clearpath Robotics’ autonomous systems? Clearpath Robotics: LiDAR, such as Seyond’s Robin W, is essential for obstacle avoidance, and higher-resolution data enables us to detect and classify objects with greater precision. This allows us to differentiate between obstacles we need to avoid—like people, vehicles, or curbs—and those we may navigate through, such as foliage. Additionally, LiDAR enhances our localization system, providing richer detail for more accurate odometry and improved environmental correlation.

Seyond: What are the benefits to utilizing Seyond’s directional LiDAR in robotics applications?

Clearpath Robotics: In certain situations, spinning LiDAR isn’t feasible due to field-of-view constraints. Directional LiDAR, however, is ideal for mounting around the vehicle’s perimeter and is now reaching a price point that makes multiple units practical. It offers an expansive field of view with excellent resolution, and we also benefit from the automotive-grade durability of this equipment for our outdoor robots.

Seyond: How can the integration of Seyond’s LiDAR contribute to broader advancements in robotics and automation industries? 

Clearpath Robotics: Clearpath has long been at the forefront of robotics research and development. Integration of Seyond’s sensors with Clearpath robots highlight how directional LiDAR offer a big advantage for robotics and automation industry by delivering high-fidelity point clouds and reliable performance at an affordable price point.

Clearpath sees the integration of Seyond LiDAR as more than just another sensor on our robots. We see it as the next big trend that Clearpath will set, enabling mass adoption of directional LiDAR in the robotics and automation industries.

Seyond: What is next for Clearpath Robotics?

Clearpath Robotics: We’re committed to advancing our outdoor Autonomous Mobile Platforms with new vehicle sizes and drivetrain configurations, while continuously enhancing our navigation software capabilities—adding features like mapping, improved obstacle detection, and drivable area classification. These upgrades will be significantly bolstered by the advanced sensor suite in our latest A300 platform generation, including the Luxonis Oak-D Pro and Seyond Robin-W.

Learn more about Seyond’s Robin W HERE

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