Skip to main content

CES 2024: PreAct launches Moab Lidar for smart cities

Moab is one of a line of sensors for any field requiring detailed 3D mapping and modelling
By David Arminas January 12, 2024 Read time: 2 mins
CES took place in Las Vegas this week (© James Mattil | Dreamstime.com)

PreAct Technologies, a developer near-field flash Lidar technology, has announced a line of sensors – Moab, Sahara, Borrego – for any field requiring detailed 3D mapping and modelling.

The high-performance, low-cost solutions are a better alternative to existing, decades-old technologies, said Paul Drysch, PreAct co-founder and chief executive.

"The flexibility and software-definability of our technology enables the creation of different form factors that not only out-perform existing technology being used today, but also meets the regulatory hurdles around data privacy as well as consumer demands for better safety and more convenience," said Drysch.

Moab is particularly suited for smart city and ITS applications. It combines a higher-power version of PreAct's general purpose Lidar sensor Mojave, which it launched last April, and the AI capabilities of Nvidia's Jetson Nano. 

Moab supports wireless communication (4G LTE, WIFI) and multiple I/O (Ethernet, USB-C) and can stand up to industrial indoor applications. The integrated "all in one box" packaging means that developers just need to plug Moab into their system and start developing.

PreAct said that Mojave is the industry's first software-definable flash Lidar and has a depth accuracy error of less than 2%. It is distributed globally by Amazon, Brevan Electronics, Arrow Electronics and Digikey.

PreAct, whose sensors are GDPR-compliant and 100% solid-state, is headquartered in Portland, Oregon, with offices in Ashburn in the US state of Virginia and Barcelona, Spain.

PreAct’s other two new sensors launched at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas this week are the Sahara, which is perfect for use outdoors and require up to 20m sensing capabilities, such as automotive, trucking and university research. It has a IP69K rating and holds up in harsh ambient light settings. The small packaging is designed for flexibility of placement at 110mm x 45mm x 33mm.

Meanwhile, the Borrego sensor is designed for long, narrow space coverage for security and logistics. The "out of the way" undetectable design has a protective mounting secured behind a support beam, positioning Borrego to not be an obstruction to precious cargo or draw attention. 

Related Content

  • Elon Musk’s underground movement
    August 3, 2020
    The Boring Company is building tunnels under various US cities – but for what? Kristina Smith delves deep into a project which may (eventually) have real appeal for mass transit providers and transportation agencies
  • Road user charging - replacing the gas tax with a mileage based fee
    January 19, 2012
    Oregon Department of Transportation's James Whitty discusses his state's progress with VMT fee-based charging. Back in 2001, the state of Oregon stole a lead on the rest of the US when it decided to address the need to do something about the gas tax and its decreasing ability to fund highway construction and upkeep. Recognising that a dwindling pot of money could only shrink further as vehicles became more fuelefficient, Oregon's Legislative Assembly passed laws which led to the setting up, by the state's g
  • Wi-SUN: here’s why mesh networking works
    May 10, 2019
    There are several networking options available for smart city planners. Phil Beecher of Wi-SUN Alliance makes the case for wireless mesh networks when it comes to rolling out IoT solutions The Internet of Things (IoT) is growing fast. Connecting thousands of sensors and control systems in bi-directional networks is paving the way for a new generation of smart city and transport infrastructures. For many of these applications, wireless connectivity is essential where cable installation is not practical.
  • Advanced in-vehicle user interface - future developments
    February 1, 2012
    Dave McNamara and Craig Simonds, Autotechinsider LLC, look at human-machine interface development out to 2015. The US auto industry is going through the worst crisis it has faced since the Great Depression. But it has embraced technologies that will produce the best-possible driving experience for the public. Ford was the first OEM to announce in-car internet radio and SYNC, its signature-branded User Interface (UI), is held up as the shining example of change embracement.