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CES 2026 LiDAR Preview: How Hesai, RoboSense, and Global Innovators Are Redefining Robotic and Autonomous Perception

Publication Date: January 8, 2026

Keywords: CES 2026 LiDAR, robotic LiDAR sensors, solid-state LiDAR, FMCW LiDAR, autonomous vehicle perception, robot perception systems, lawn mower LiDAR, Physical AI, Embodied Intelligence

The world’s most influential technology showcase, CES 2026, officially opened today in Las Vegas. While the number of Chinese exhibitors has slightly shifted this year, the overall concentration of deep-tech and frontier hardware innovation has reached a new peak. Among more than 4,500 exhibitors, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) has emerged as one of the most critical technologies connecting digital intelligence with the physical world.

Unlike previous editions of CES—where LiDAR innovation was largely confined to automotive and autonomous driving applications—CES 2026 marks a clear turning point. The spotlight has shifted toward Physical AI and Embodied Intelligence, with LiDAR rapidly expanding from automotive-grade sensors into the broader ecosystem of general-purpose robotics.

From autonomous vehicles and unmanned delivery platforms to service robots, robotic lawn mowers, and industrial AMRs, robotic LiDAR sensors are becoming the foundational “eyes” of intelligent machines.

This article provides an in-depth overview of the core LiDAR technologies, leading manufacturers, and key industry trends shaping robotics and autonomous perception at CES 2026.

I. Chinese LiDAR Leaders: From Automotive Sensors to Embodied Intelligence
1. Hesai Technology: Building the “Eyes” of Robots

As one of the world’s leading LiDAR manufacturers, Hesai Technology demonstrated its strong technological moat at CES 2026, spanning custom chips, system architecture, and large-scale manufacturing.

Key Products:

Upgraded ATX series, powered by the in-house Fermi C500 LiDAR chip

JT Series, purpose-built for robotics and non-automotive platforms

Robotic LiDAR Strategy:
Hesai clearly articulated the concept of “Robotics LiDAR.” The JT Series, a miniaturized high-performance 3D LiDAR, stands out for its compact form factor, high resolution, and low power consumption—making it an ideal central perception sensor for robots.

Real-World Applications:
Live demonstrations showcased JT LiDAR deployed in intelligent companion robots, robotic lawn mowers, and 3D scanning systems, including the V-Dragon companion robot, Dreame robotic lawn mowers, and the Ruishi 3D scanner.
Notably, the JT Series has exceeded 200,000 units shipped within one year, making it one of the fastest-scaling robotic LiDAR products on the market.

Manufacturing Scale:
Hesai announced plans to double annual production capacity to 4 million units in 2026, further reinforcing its leadership in robotic and autonomous perception hardware.

2. RoboSense & Weilanda: Digitizing Perception for Smart Lawn Mowers

RoboSense partnered with Weilanda to unveil a major new product at CES 2026, signaling the deep penetration of LiDAR into consumer robotics.

Flagship Collaboration:

Navimow i2 LiDAR System for robotic lawn mowers

Technical Breakthrough:
The system features the world’s first fully solid-state digital LiDAR designed specifically for robotics, the E1R.

Key Specifications:

Ultra-wide 120° × 90° Field of View

144 scanning lines

Nearly 200,000 points per second

AI-Enhanced Perception:
By fusing LiDAR data with AI vision algorithms, the system can recognize over 200 types of obstacles, including pets, suspended objects, and complex vegetation. It also generates full-color real-world maps via the Geo-Sketch™ mapping system.

Core Advantage:
With no moving parts, the solid-state design offers exceptional impact resistance and reliability—perfectly addressing perception challenges in complex garden and outdoor environments.

3. Seyond: A Full-Scenario LiDAR Perception Matrix

Seyond continues to lead in automotive LiDAR with its Falcon series while demonstrating strong execution in robotics and unmanned systems.

Award-Winning Product:

Hummingbird D1, recipient of the CES 2026 Best-in-Show Award

The Hummingbird D1 represents one of the first mass-produced pure solid-state LiDARs for passenger vehicles, marking a major milestone in LiDAR commercialization.

Robotics & Autonomous Logistics:
A joint demonstration featured the Jiuzhi Z5 unmanned delivery vehicle, equipped with Seyond’s Wren W LiDAR, enabling all-weather, high-reliability autonomous transport and accelerating the deployment of unmanned freight solutions.

4. LightIC: The World’s Smallest FMCW 4D LiDAR

LightIC introduced a disruptive innovation at CES 2026—the FR60, billed as the world’s smallest pocket-sized 4D FMCW LiDAR.

Core Highlights:

FMCW architecture

Direct measurement of distance and velocity

Ultra-compact form factor

Target Applications:
Designed for AMRs, AGVs, industrial robots, and smart factory automation, the FR60 breaks the traditional trade-off between performance, size, and cost, enabling advanced perception in space-constrained platforms.

5. VanJee: Solid-State and Blind-Spot LiDAR Solutions

VanJee focused on perception systems for autonomous driving and service robotics.

Key Product:

WLR-750 fully solid-state FLASH LiDAR

Massive 128° × 96° FOV

Effectively mitigates high-reflection interference from metal surfaces, reducing algorithmic complexity

Service Robot Applications:

WLR-722 (16-line lightweight LiDAR)
Making its international debut, it has already been deployed in robotic dogs, two-wheeled robots, and robotic lawn mowers, featuring low noise, low power consumption, and strong environmental robustness.

II. International Players: Innovation and Cross-Industry Integration
1. Innoviz: Ultra-Thin LiDAR for Robotics

InnovizThree was unveiled with a 35% cost reduction compared to its predecessor and an ultra-slim design weighing only around 600 grams.

Robotics Potential:
Its compact size and affordability make it highly suitable for humanoid robots, micro-robots, and drones, offering developers a high-performance, cost-efficient LiDAR solution.

2. Aeva: Windshield-Integrated 4D LiDAR

Aeva showcased its Atlas Ultra 4D LiDAR, along with a novel windshield-integrated design.

Technical Advantages:

FMCW-based true 4D perception

Direct velocity measurement

Enhanced obstacle detection and prediction in dynamic environments, critical for both robots and autonomous vehicles

3. Voyant Photonics & Lumos: Silicon Photonics LiDAR

Both companies presented LiDAR systems based on silicon photonics technology.

Industry Direction:
By integrating optical functions directly onto silicon chips, these solutions achieve significant miniaturization and cost reduction. Voyant’s Carbon platform and Lumos’s CITEYE™ system highlight the future of LiDAR in industrial automation, robotics, and smart city infrastructure.

III. Key LiDAR Industry Trends at CES 2026

Based on CES 2026 exhibits, three major trends are clearly shaping the LiDAR industry:

1. The Rise of Physical AI

LiDAR is no longer just an automotive sensor—it is becoming the core sensing technology that enables robots to perceive and interact with the physical world. From robotic lawn mowers to autonomous delivery vehicles, perception is bringing machines to life.

2. Diversification of Technology Roadmaps

Mechanical LiDAR, solid-state LiDAR, FMCW LiDAR, SPAD-based systems, and silicon photonics are all advancing in parallel. Fundamental innovation is driving lower costs, higher performance, and new capabilities such as native velocity sensing.

3. From Hardware to Perception Ecosystems

LiDAR manufacturers are evolving beyond hardware suppliers to deliver end-to-end perception solutions, integrating AI algorithms, SLAM, mapping, localization, and obstacle avoidance into complete systems for robotics and autonomous mobility.
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