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Boston Startup Teradar Bets on Terahertz Sensors for Safer Self-Driving Cars

  • MM24 News Desk
  • 3 days ago
  • 2 min read

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Boston, Massachusetts-based startup Teradar is pioneering a new approach to autonomous vehicle sensing by leveraging the largely untapped terahertz frequency band. The company claims its solid-state sensors can provide vision that is up to 20x higher resolution than current radar systems and see farther than 984 feet (300 meters), all while performing reliably in rain, snow, and fog, potentially making self-driving cars safer and more accessible.


Today's self-driving cars rely on a complex suite of cameras, radar, and LiDAR, each with its own limitations in challenging weather or lighting. Teradar aims to consolidate and surpass these capabilities with a single, more effective technology. Their sensors operate in the terahertz band, which sits between radar and infrared on the electromagnetic spectrum, a sweet spot that the startup believes offers superior performance.


The core of their innovation is the Modular Terahertz Engine. This system is designed not only to be more powerful but also significantly cheaper for automakers to adopt. The company told TechCrunch that the engine is expected to cost just a few hundred dollars per vehicle, a fraction of the combined price of current radar and LiDAR systems. This cost-effectiveness is key to the technology's potential for widespread adoption.




Teradar recently secured a substantial US$150 million in a Series B funding round, a strong vote of confidence in its technology. While the terahertz band has been explored for other applications, the startup is likely the first to develop it this extensively for the automotive industry, reported TechCrunch. The enhanced sensing capability is targeted at enabling Level 3 autonomy, where a car can reliably drive itself on city streets and highways but requires a human driver to be ready to take control.



The path to market, however, requires patience. The company acknowledges that convincing automakers to install and test its sensors is a lengthy process. Furthermore, the systems must undergo homologation, integrate with software platforms like Google Maps, and clear various regulatory hurdles before they can appear on production vehicles. If successful, Teradar's technology could upend the current self-driving sensor stack, allowing a wider range of vehicle brands to offer advanced autonomy without prohibitive costs.




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