VoxelSensors participates in the Horizon Europe SPEAR project in AI and Robotics
VoxelSensors is excited to announce its participation in the "SPEAR: Spatial Perception & Embodied Autonomy Research" project under Horizon Europe.
"We are pleased to collaborate on this project, focusing on adapting our Switching Pixels® Active Event Sensor (SPAES) - serial spatial 3D data format for drones. This adaptation promises to significantly enhance drone navigation in challenging conditions, thanks to SPAES' low-power consumption and low-latency 3D perception subsystem," shared Andre Miodezky, CGO of VoxelSensors.
SPEAR project aims to transform aerial robotics by tailoring designs for specific missions and environments. Using evolutionary algorithms, a blend of materials, diverse sensors, efficient propulsion, and deep neural networks, SPEAR creates adaptable robots. The goal is to develop efficient, resilient, and safe aerial robots optimized for specific tasks. This project has the potential to shift aerial robot design from human-led to automated, task-specific models.
SPEAR responds to the HORIZON-CL4-2022-DIGITAL-EMERGING-02-06 solicitation, building on the expertise of institutions like NTNU (Coordinator, NO), TU Delft (NL), Lulea Technological University (SE), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (NL), IMEC (BE), ETH Zurich (CH), University of Paderborn (DE), VoxelSensors (BE), Biodrone (NO), and the Center for Security Studies (GR).
Official text: Link.
VoxelSensors Debuts the Global Premiere of Revolutionary Switching Pixels® Active Event Sensor Evaluation Kit for 3D Perception to Seamlessly Blend the Physical and Digital Worlds
BRUSSELS, Belgium, May 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - VoxelSensors is to reveal its innovative 3D Perception technology, the Switching Pixels® Active Event Sensor (SPAES), and globally premiere the related Andromeda Evaluation Kit at AWE USA 2023. Experience this breakthrough technology from May 31 to June 2 at AWE booth #914 in Santa Clara (California, USA).
VoxelSensors’ Switching Pixels® Active Event Sensor is a novel category of ultra-low power and ultra-low latency 3D perception sensors for Extended Reality (XR) to seamlessly blend the physical and digital worlds.
Extended Reality device manufacturers require low power consumption and low latency 3D Perception technology to flawlessly blend the physical and digital worlds and unlock the true potential of immersive experiences. VoxelSensors’ patented Switching Pixels® Active Event Sensor technology has uniquely resolved these significant challenges and is the world’s first solution that has achieved a threshold of less than 10 milliwatts in terms of power consumption, combined with less than 5 milliseconds of latency. Furthermore, this is possible while being resistant to indoor and outdoor lighting at distances over 5 meters and being immune to crosstalk.
This breakthrough technology offers an alternative to traditional 3D sensors, eliminating the need for slow frames. It sends 3D data points in real-time serially to the device and application at nanosecond refresh rates. Designed for efficiency, SPAES delivers the lowest latency for perception applications at minimal power consumption addressing previously unmet needs such as precise segmentation, spatial mapping, anchoring, and natural interaction.
“SPAES disrupts the standard in 3D Perception,” says Christian Mourad, co-founder and VP of Engineering at VoxelSensors. “The Andromeda Evaluation Kit, available for the selected OEMs and integrators in the summer of 2023, demonstrates our commitment to advancing XR/AR/MR and VR applications. This innovation, however, isn’t limited to Extended Reality and expands into robotics, the automotive industry, drones, and medical applications.”
VoxelSensors was founded in 2020 by a team of seasoned experts in the field of 3D sensing and perception, with over 50 years of collective experience. The team’s success includes co-inventing an efficient 3D Time-of-Flight sensor and camera technology, which leading tech company Sony acquired in 2015.
In May 2023, VoxelSensors announced a €5M investment led by Belgian venture capitals Capricorn Partners and Qbic with contributions from the investment firm finance&invest.brussels, along with existing investors and the team. The funding will bolster VoxelSensors' roadmap, talent acquisition, and enhance customer relations in the U.S. and Asia.
“At VoxelSensors, we aim to fuse the physical and digital realms until they're indistinguishable,” says Johannes Peeters, co-founder and CEO of VoxelSensors. “With Extended Reality gaining momentum it is our duty to discover, create, work, and play across sectors like gaming, healthcare, and manufacturing. Our Switching Pixels® Active Event Sensor technology stands ready to pioneer transformative user experiences!”
For information related to an Andromeda Evaluation Kit or a possible purchase contact: [email protected].
About VoxelSensors
VoxelSensors is at the forefront of 3D perception, providing cutting-edge sensors and solutions for seamless integration of the physical and digital worlds. Our patented Switching Pixels® Active Event Sensor (SPAES) technology represents a novel category of efficient 3D perception systems, delivering exceptionally low latency with ultra-low power consumption by capturing a new Voxel with fewer than 10 photons. SPAES is a game-changing innovation that unlocks the true potential of fully immersive experiences for both consumer electronics and enterprise AR/VR/MR wearables. To learn more, visit us at https://voxelsensors.com.
For Press Information Contact:
Karina Kovalenko - Marketing Manager VoxelSensors
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://voxelsensors.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/voxelsensors
VoxelSensors Raises €5M in Seed Funding for blending the physical and digital worlds through 3D perception
BRUSSELS, Belgium, May 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - VoxelSensors today announces an investment of €5M led by Belgian venture capital firms Capricorn Partners and Qbic, with participation from the investment firm finance&invest.brussels, existing investors and the team. VoxelSensors’ Switching Pixels® Active Event Sensor (SPAES) is a novel category of ultra-low power and ultra-low latency 3D perception sensors for Extended Reality (XR)1 to blend the physical and digital worlds. The funding will be used to further develop VoxelSensors’ roadmap, hire key employees, and strengthen business engagements with customers in the U.S. and Asia. Furthermore, VoxelSensors remains committed to raising funds in order to back its ambitious growth plans.
Extended Reality device manufacturers require low power consumption and low latency 3D perception technology to seamlessly blend the physical and digital worlds and unlock the true potential of immersive experiences. VoxelSensors’ patented Switching Pixels® Active Event Sensor technology has uniquely resolved these significant 3D perception challenges and is the world’s first solution reaching less than 10 milliwatts power consumption combined with less than 5 milliseconds latency while being resistant to outdoor lighting at distances over 5 meters and being immune to crosstalk interferences.
The founders of VoxelSensors boast a combined experience of more than 50 years in the development of cutting-edge 3D sensor technologies, systems and software. Their track record of success includes co-inventing an efficient 3D Time of Flight sensor and camera technology, which was acquired by a leading tech company.
“Our goal at VoxelSensors is to seamlessly integrate the physical and digital worlds to a point level where they become indistinguishable,” said Johannes Peeters, co-founder and CEO of VoxelSensors. "Extended Reality has rapidly gained traction in recent years, with diverse applications across sectors such as gaming, entertainment, education, healthcare, manufacturing, and more. With our Switching Pixels® Active Event Sensor technology we are poised to deliver unparalleled opportunities for groundbreaking user experiences. We are excited by the opportunity to contribute to the growth of our growing industry and honored by the trust of these investors to help us expand the company and accelerate market penetration.”
“We are excited to invest with the Capricorn Digital Growth Fund in VoxelSensors. We appreciate the broad experience in the team, the flexibility of the 3D perception solution towards different applications and the solid intellectual property base, essential for the success of a deep tech start-up. The team has a proven track record to build a scalable business model within a Europe-based semiconductor value chain. We also highly value the support of the Brussels region via Innoviris,” explained Marc Lambrechts, Investment Director at Capricorn Partners.
“As an inter-university fund, Qbic is delighted to support VoxelSensors in this phase of its journey. It’s a pleasure to see the team that led one of Vrije Universiteit Brussels’ (VUB) most prominent spinoffs to successful exit, start another initiative in this space. They will leverage again the expertise VUB has in this domain, through an extensive research collaboration,” said Steven Leuridan, Partner at Qbic III Fund. “We truly believe VoxelSensors is a shining example of a European fabless semiconductor company that holds potential to lead its market.”
Marc Lambrechts from Capricorn Partners and Steven Leuridan from Qbic are appointed to VoxelSensors’ Board of Directors, effective immediately.
“With Switching Pixels® Active Event Sensing (SPAES) we challenge the status quo in 3D perception,” concludes VoxelSensors’ co-founder and CTO of VoxelSensors, PhD Ward van der Tempel. “This groundbreaking technology unlocks new possibilities in Extended Reality by addressing previously unmet needs such as precise segmentation, spatial mapping, anchoring and natural interaction. Moreover, this breakthrough innovation extends beyond Extended Reality, and has exciting potential in various industries, including robotics, automotive, drones, and medical applications.”
VoxelSensors will showcase their breakthrough technology at the Augmented World Expo (AWE) USA 2023 from May 31 to June 2, 2023, in Santa Clara (California, USA). Evaluation Kits of the SPAES technology are available for purchase through [email protected].
About VoxelSensors
VoxelSensors is at the forefront of 3D perception, providing cutting-edge sensors and solutions for seamless integration of the physical and digital worlds. Our patented Switching Pixels® Active Event Sensor (SPAES) technology represents a novel category of efficient 3D perception systems, delivering exceptional low latency with ultra-low power consumption by capturing a new Voxel with fewer than 10 photons. SPAES is a game-changing innovation that unlocks the true potential of fully immersive experiences for both consumer electronics and enterprise AR/VR/MR wearables. To learn more, visit us at https://voxelsensors.com.
For Press Information, contact
Karina Kovalenko - Marketing Manager Voxelsensors
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.voxelsensors.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/voxelsensors
About Capricorn Partners
Capricorn Partners is an independent European manager of venture capital and equity funds, investing in innovative European companies with technology as competitive advantage. The investment team of Capricorn is composed of experienced investment managers with deep technology expertise and a broad industrial experience. Capricorn Partners is managing the venture capital funds Capricorn Sustainable Chemistry Fund, Capricorn Digital Growth Fund, Capricorn ICT Arkiv, Capricorn Health‐tech Fund, Capricorn Cleantech Fund and Capricorn Fusion China Fund. In addition, it is the management company of Quest for Growth, quoted on Euronext Brussels, and the investment manager of Quest Cleantech Fund and Quest+, sub‐funds of Quest Management SICAV, registered in Luxembourg.
Website: www.capricorn.be
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/capricornpartners
About Qbic
Qbic is an inter-university sector-agnostic seed and early-stage venture capital fund, supporting young innovative companies that valorize research from Qbic's knowledge partners. The fund typically participates in the first external investment round of a company and continues to support and invest in these companies throughout their growth. Across 3 funds, Qbic has over € 150M in AUM.
For Press Information, contact
Steven Leuridan
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.qbic.be
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/qbic
1 For clarity, we refer to extended reality (XR) as umbrella term for augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), mixed reality (MR) and smart eyewear glasses.
Revolutionary research into 3D sensors in robotics
Alumni work together with VUB on new technology
Two VUB alumni have reached a major milestone on their entrepreneurial path. The Vrije Universiteit Brussel, its Department of Electronics and Informatics (ETRO), VUB BruBotics and Brussels-based start-up VoxelSensors are jointly starting the research programme SPECTRE. VoxelSensors was founded by VUB alumni Ward van der Tempel and Johannes Peeters and entrepreneur Andre Miodezky. The aim of SPECTRE is to study 3D sensors in robotics and enable adoption of the technology in this field. The project is supported by Innoviris, the public organisation that funds research and innovation in the Brussels region.
Ward van der Tempel and Johannes Peeters' adventure with the VUB began more than 15 years ago. In 2004, Ward started his PhD on "Current-assisted sensor devices for 3D Time-of-Flight (ToF) imaging", which he successfully completed in 2011.
Also in 2004, a research team was formed at ETRO to explore the potential of using CMOS imaging technology to produce 3D sensors. Years later, the team's research proved successful. New ToF technology (called CAPD) was invented and protected with a patent. After which, the first sensors, systems, cameras, and software were produced.
The students involved in this project, including Ward van der Tempel, took advantage of funding from the Brussels Capital Region, intended to support graduates and PhD students in setting up innovative companies. In 2009, for example, the spin-off company Optrima was founded, supported by the VUB's technology transfer office and based on the original intellectual property developed by the team during their research at the VUB. Andre Miodezky was then brought in as CEO.
In parallel with the research project, Johannes Peeters started his education at the VUB and obtained his Master of Science in Civil Engineering in 2010. As part of his curriculum, he took the entrepreneurship course at the VUB. Optrima became his case study in the process. He went on to investigate the market applicability of 3D ToF sensors. He did that research work to his full satisfaction: Johannes Peeters became Optrima's first employee. It was the beginning of a long-term friendship between Ward, Andre, and Johannes.
Establishment of VoxelSensors
The three founded VoxelSensors on 11 March 2020, a day before the first Covid closure. They chose Brussels as their headquarters to take advantage of its central location in Europe, support from the Brussels Capital Region, and proximity to the VUB to set up research projects.
For the next two years, the company deliberately operated under the radar. It used this time to further develop its Switching Pixels technology and make a breakthrough in the industry.
VoxelSensors' ambition is to revolutionise the 3D Perception market. Switching Pixels sensors can be used in a variety of applications: augmented and virtual reality (XR/VR/AR) for professional and consumer applications to blend the physical and virtual worlds; improving autonomous mobility with anti-collision and pathfinding for robotics, autonomous navigation vehicles; and optimising industrial automation enabling factory floors where humans and robots can safely work together
VoxelSensors steps up to the VUB
In 2021, VoxelSensors presented their prototype at the VUB, after which they entered into a first project with ETRO Prof Adrian Munteanu. In 2022, VoxelSensors engaged with the VUB in a research project with Prof. Adrian Munteanu and Prof. Bram Vanderborght. With the support of Innoviris, they will research software algorithms, validate Switching Pixels technology in robotics and create open-source software and application notes to facilitate industrial and academic adoption.
Switching Pixels® review by Karl Guttag
Switching Pixels® review by Karl Guttag
Karl Guttag, a leading expert in the field of XR technology, reviewed the Switching Pixels® Active Event Sensor technology for XR 3D Perception at CES 2023. He gave it a positive review and deemed it a significant advancement in the field of XR technology.
Watch the video review.
Read Karl Guttag's review.
VoxelSensors at AR | VR | MR SPIE on January 30th, 2023
VoxelSensors at AR | VR | MR SPIE on January 30th, 2023
We are thrilled to announce that Ward van der Tempel, our CTO, will be giving a presentation on our cutting-edge Switching Pixels® 3D Perception technology at the AR | VR | MR SPIE event on January 30th at 3:20 PM – 3:40 PM PST.
VoxelSensors and OQmented collaborate on laser scanning-based 3D perception
VoxelSensors, the leading provider of Active Event Sensor (AES) technology for 3D perception, will announce its Switching Pixels® solution during CES in Las Vegas on January 5-8, 2023. Switching Pixels is a novel category of 3D perception systems designed to resolve the current limitations in XR/AR/MR/VR applications by offering unprecedented milliwatts low-power, nanoseconds low-latency performance, and a simplified data path.
VoxelSensors introduces breakthrough 3D perception technology for XR/AR/MR/VR to blend the physical and digital worlds
VoxelSensors, the leading provider of Active Event Sensor (AES) technology for 3D perception, will announce its Switching Pixels® solution during CES in Las Vegas on January 5-8, 2023.
Technology milestone: Real-time 3D data acquisition
VoxelSensors succeeded to acquire 3D data in real-time from 2 Perseid sensors and laser beam illumination.
This is a world premiere!
Our Switching Pixels® Active Event Sensors unlock low power, low latency 3D perception.
Take a look at our serialized low latency point clouds!
https://youtu.be/6zqB2UPi8io
Download the white paper here.
