Ouster Inc.’s (NASDAQ:OUST) latest sensor technology could eliminate traditional cameras in robotics and autonomous systems, according to CEO Angus Pacala.
Pascala said in a TechCrunch interview published May 4 that the company’s new “Rev8” lidar lineup, which combines color imaging with three-dimensional depth sensing in a single device, represents a long-sought breakthrough for robotics.
“The goal is to obviate cameras. There’s no reason that one sensor can’t do both,” Pacala said, adding that the system captures both color imagery and depth data simultaneously to create a unified 3D “colorized point cloud.”
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A Single Sensor For Vision And Depth
Traditional autonomous systems typically rely on separate lidar sensors and cameras, requiring complex calibration and data fusion.
“For all of human history, it’s been: you buy a lidar sensor, you buy a camera, and you try to make sense of the combination,” Pacala told TechCrunch, adding that companies often struggle to fully integrate the two data streams.
The system allows developers to work with lidar data, camera-like imagery or a pre-fused combination, depending on the application, he said.
How ‘Color Lidar’ Works
The Rev8 platform is built on Ouster’s digital lidar architecture, which uses single photon avalanche diode detectors to capture data directly on-chip, the company said.
Pascala told TechCrunch the same technology enables both depth sensing and image capture, allowing the system to deliver high-resolution, high-dynamic-range color data alongside spatial measurements.
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He said the sensors offer 48-bit color and 116 dB of dynamic range, positioning them as competitive with modern camera systems.
“It just so happens it’s coming as a pre-fused data stream,” he said.
Expanding Demand Across Robotics And AVs
Demand for advanced sensing technology continues to grow as robotaxi operators like Waymo expand deployments and investment continues to flow into industrial and humanoid robotics companies, according to TechCrunch.
The lidar sector has also seen significant consolidation in recent years, including Ouster’s acquisition of Velodyne in 2023 and recent restructuring among competitors.
Pacala said combining multiple sensing functions into a single system could reduce costs and complexity for customers while improving performance. He added that the new sensors are designed for functional safety, reliability, affordability and scale to support commercial deployment.
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A Push To Replace Cameras
Ouster’s long-term goal is to simplify perception systems by replacing multi-sensor setups with a single device, Pacala told TechCrunch.
He described Rev8 as a decade-in-the-making breakthrough and the “holy grail of what a roboticist has always wanted.” Pacala said the technology could enable smaller, more efficient systems across applications ranging from robotaxis to drones and industrial automation.
The Rev8 lineup includes models such as the OS0, OS1, OSDome, and the new flagship OS1 Max, all built on the company’s new L4 and L4 Max silicon. Pacala said he is particularly proud of the OS1 Max, which offers visibility up …
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