AEye

Overview

AEye develops and sells software-defined, active lidar sensing platforms for vehicle autonomy, ADAS, robotic vision, and a range of non-automotive applications. Its Intelligent Sensing Platform combines a software-definable solid-state active lidar sensor, an adaptive SmartScan architecture that adjusts scan patterns by scene and target, and a signal-processing pipeline designed for precise measurements and imaging in safety-critical use cases. The platform is software-configurable and performs edge processing to reduce compute, power, and latency.

Core technology and architecture

• Bistatic lidar architecture with separate transmit and receive paths to improve range, frame rate, and resolution
• Time-of-flight scanning using a 1550 nm laser (retina-safe with a higher photon budget than 905 nm)
• Custom MEMS scanners with high resonant frequency and a small form factor
• On-chip processing with deterministic AI and edge processing
• Integration with NVIDIA DRIVE AGX perception stack; alignment with NVIDIA Hyperion reference architecture

Products

• Apollo (launched June 2024)
  • Long-range lidar with up to approximately 1 kilometer detection range
  • High resolution; compact and power-efficient; suitable for behind-the-windshield, roofline, or grille mounting
  • Built on the Intelligent Sensing Platform; software-defined and upgradable via OTA updates
• STRATOS (announced January 2026)
  • Extended long-range detection of approximately 1.5 kilometers
  • Approximately twice the angular resolution of Apollo
  • Software-defined; extends the same underlying architecture for enhanced long-distance performance
• OPTIS (announced July 2025)
  • Full-stack physical AI solution for the non-automotive market
  • Software-defined ecosystem intended to be extended via third-party perception, analytics, and workflow software
  • Requires an ecosystem of software partners to realize full value on the OPTIS platform
• Apollo for Non-Automotive
  • Built on the same Intelligent Sensing Platform and compatible with the OPTIS ecosystem
  • Applicable across rail, construction/mining, agriculture, aerospace/defense, security/foreign object detection, intelligent transportation systems, and similar use cases
• Roadmap and variants
  • Apollo and STRATOS support software and firmware updates to improve performance without hardware changes
  • OPTIS and STRATOS are positioned to broaden use cases beyond traditional automotive

Markets and go-to-market

• Target markets
  • Automotive: ADAS and autonomous driving (SAE Levels 2–5), long-range sensing for highway autonomy and hub-to-hub commercial vehicle autonomy
  • Non-Automotive: rail, construction/mining/agriculture, aerospace/defense, security/FOD, and intelligent transportation systems
• Sales approach
  • Early-stage engagements through direct sales with OEMs, system integrators, and solution providers
  • Transition to a Tier 1 supply model as programs mature and reach high-volume production
  • Non-automotive sales frequently handled via direct sales and system integrators
• Partnerships and ecosystem
  • Strategic hardware and software partnerships to accelerate deployment and reduce hardware variants
  • Global collaboration network including ATI (Accelight Technologies, Inc.), LighTekton, Flasheye, Blue Band, Black Sesame, and Vueron for non-automotive deployments, including China
  • NVIDIA DRIVE AGX integration for alignment with autonomous driving compute platforms

Intellectual property

• 104 U.S. and foreign issued patents as of February 24, 2026
• 32 patent applications pending
• 2 registered trademarks; 5 pending
• Core IP themes: bistatic lidar system architecture, laser, scanner, receiver, and perception technology
• Emphasis on protecting trade secrets, know-how, and manufacturing processes; extensive use of non-disclosure and related protections in partnerships

Operations, facilities, and people

• Headquarters and primary R&D site: Pleasanton, California
• Facility size: 18,605 square feet
• Lease amended February 2026; lease expires February 28, 2029, with a five-year extension option
• Employees: 56 as of December 31, 2025; majority in R&D
• Manufacturing approach: reliance on third-party partners and contract manufacturers; some non-automotive products manufactured through outsourced arrangements

Financial highlights

• Net loss
  • 2025: approximately $34.0 million
  • 2024: approximately $35.5 million
• Accumulated deficit: approximately $407.1 million as of December 31, 2025
• International revenue share: 50% of revenue in 2025; 24% in 2024
• Dividend policy: company does not expect to declare cash dividends in the foreseeable future

Corporate and regulatory

• Public company listed on Nasdaq; completed a reverse stock split in 2023 to maintain listing and regained Nasdaq compliance in March 2025
• Operates within a broad regulatory environment including export controls, privacy, safety standards, product certification, and environmental regulations

Summary

AEye offers software-defined, active lidar sensing platforms, including Apollo and STRATOS and the OPTIS ecosystem for non-automotive markets. The company targets automotive autonomy and a range of non-automotive industries through direct sales and partnerships, with a path toward Tier 1 manufacturing for automotive programs. The business remains in a development and investment phase, with historical operating losses, international revenue exposure, a substantial accumulated deficit, a protected IP portfolio, and a compact R&D-focused team based in Pleasanton, California.