Metawave Corporation, a start-up based in California working on radar sensing for highly automated driving and wireless solutions for 5G deployments, recently closed its initial Series A funding.
DENSO, one of the leading mobility suppliers, led the round. Other investors include Mirae Asset Capital, NTT DOCOMO Ventures and existing investors including BOLD Capital Partners. The company’s initial seed round of $17 million included financial support from companies like DENSO, Toyota, Hyundai, Infineon, and others.
Safety requirements, as well as expectations for a smooth riding experience facing the auto industry cannot be met using only today’s sensors, even including top digital beamforming (DBF) or MIMO radars. Leading automakers are looking for innovative radar that provides longer range, higher resolution, and with greater angular accuracy and intelligent object classification.
Metawave is delivering advanced analog beamsteering radar system capable of distinguishing between objects in difficult driving scenarios and in all-weather conditions, making cars safer and smarter. Using similar beamforming technology, the company is also developing its state-of-the-art cellular systems, TURBO™ active repeaters and ECHO™ passive relays to enable faster, more efficient 5G and fixed wireless deployments to bring high-speed connectivity to users as they connect indoors and outdoors around the world. All of Metawave’s platforms are integrated with AWARE™, its proprietary AI software for object detection and classification, and for effective network planning and optimization
State-of-the-art analog radar delivers these critical features, giving automakers the ability to provide next-generation adaptive cruise control, lane change assist, and automated emergency braking. Clearing these hurdles is critical to ensuring the highest levels of repeatable and dependable safety adherence while gaining long-term community acceptance.
At the same time, 5G is also impacting the automotive industry as it heads toward highly automated driving on the road to full autonomy. It is predicted that automotive OEMs will gravitate towards C-V2X and V2V communication benefiting from 5G lower latency and higher capacity. Repeaters and relays will be critical to extend coverage while maintaining reliable links. The inclusion of NTT DOCOMO Venture’s, a known leader in 5G is being considered as an important addition given Metawave’s 5G technology innovation.
Source: Press Release
