Aeva Technologies 4D LiDAR Selected for Airbus Optimate Project

Aeva Technologies, global industry experts in next-generation sensing and perception systems, has been selected by Airbus UpNext, the innovation subsidiary of Airbus, to supply its 4D LiDAR technology as part of the Optimate automation demonstrator project.Launched in May 2024, Optimate is a multi-year initiative focused on advancing autonomy and smart automation in commercial aviation. The project builds on Airbus’ previous demonstrators—VERTEX and ATTOL—and consolidates key automation functions into a single test platform. Aeva’s 4D LiDAR is among the core sensing technologies integrated into the program.

Conducted in partnership with industry collaborators, regulatory bodies such as the French Civil Aviation Authority, and academic researchers, Optimate aims to develop systems that support pilots while improving overall operational safety. The long-term objective is to enable highly efficient, gate-to-gate autonomous operation aboard Airbus commercial aircraft. These missions will incorporate 4D trajectory management, virtual pilot assistance via tablet interface, and pilot-overridable safety protections.

Initial testing efforts are concentrated on the taxi phase, where perception systems such as 4D LiDAR are expected to play a critical role. To support this phase, Airbus has deployed an unconventional ground test platform—a fully electric truck outfitted with a virtual A350 cockpit and full test instrumentation, known internally as OPTI1. This mobile laboratory features a simulated flight deck and is equipped with a combination of vision and perception technologies, including computer vision, geo-locating sensors, 4D radar, and LiDAR.

The test vehicle replicates the cockpit environment and sensor suite of a next-generation airliner, enabling real-time evaluation of automation technologies in complex airport environments. The intent is to offload routine pilot workload and redirect crew attention to strategic, decision-critical functions.

Aeva’s 4D LiDAR system utilizes Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) technology to measure both precise distance and instantaneous velocity for each point in the field of view. This capability distinguishes it from traditional LiDAR systems that measure only positional data. Aeva’s long-range sensing—up to 500 meters—and velocity detection enables the real-time identification of moving and stationary objects in dynamic operational zones, such as runways and taxiways.

For the Optimate project, multiple Aeva 4D LiDAR sensors have been integrated into an Airbus A350-1000 flight test aircraft and the electric ground test vehicle. Trials underway at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport and other international locations include hundreds of hours of taxi operations, during which sensor data is analyzed to support object detection, obstacle avoidance, and situational awareness in real-time.

“Airbus has a proven history of innovation and introducing next-generation technologies to the air transportation industry at scale,” said Soroush Salehian, Co-founder and CEO of Aeva. “This collaboration is a tremendous opportunity to showcase the transformative potential of Aeva’s 4D LiDAR technology in the aviation industry. We’re excited to support the Optimate team in their smart automation technologies exploration.”

About Aeva Technologies, Inc.

Aeva Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: AEVA) is a Silicon Valley-based sensing and perception company pioneering 4D LiDAR solutions for mobility, industrial automation, and robotics. The company’s sensors use Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) technology to simultaneously capture precise 3D position and instantaneous velocity for each point in a scene. Aeva’s chip-scale photonics platform integrates key optical components into a compact module, enabling high-performance, real-time perception with extended range and interference immunity.

Aeva’s solutions are used in automotive, aerospace, robotics, and industrial applications where reliable object detection and motion tracking are critical to autonomy and safety. The company’s product line includes the Aeva Atlas and Aeva Aeries sensors for mobility and automation platforms.

Learn more at www.aeva.com.

Source: Aeva Technologies; Airbus Content/Photo Credit/Copyright: Airbus

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(Editor’s Note: Aeva, the Aeva logo, Aeva 4D LiDAR, Aeva Atlas, Aeva Eve, Aeries, Aeva Ultra Resolution, Aeva CoreVision, and Aeva X1 are trademarks/registered trademarks of Aeva, Inc.  All rights reserved. All other trademarks mentioned in this article, including company names, product names, and logos, are the property of their respective owners. Use of these trademarks is for informational purposes only and does not imply any endorsement.)

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(Editor’s Note: All trademarks mentioned in this article, including company names, product names, and logos, are the property of their respective owners. Use of these trademarks is for informational purposes only and does not imply any endorsement.)