Amazon Backs Programmable Optics Startup Lumotive, Expanding LiDAR Innovation

Reported July 22 by TechCrunch, Lumotive has reopened its Series B round with Amazon’s Industrial Innovation Fund joining initial investors, boosting the total to $59 million. With over $100 million raised to date, the company’s Light Control Metasurface (LCM) chips offer electronically steerable beams, enabling programmable, mirrorless LiDAR with faster response, lower power, and compact size.

Use cases include autonomous vehicles, industrial automation, and high-density data center optical switching. Lumotive CEO Sam Heidari says this technology shifts the paradigm from mechanical motor-based systems to solid-state optics that “bend and steer light electronically”.

Key Highlights

• $59 M Series B total, with Amazon joining the round

• LCM optics: Electronic beam steering without moving parts

• Use cases: AVs, industrial robots, data center switching

• Tech advantage: Faster, smaller, and more durable than motor-based LiDAR

• Commercial momentum: Exiting “science project” phase, ramping deployment

Why This Matters

1. Hardware innovation: Reflects a shift toward compact, efficient sensing hardware crucial for emerging tech.

2. Amazon’s strategic move: Signals interest in integrating LiDAR/optics in logistics, robotics, and cloud infrastructure.

3. Infrastructure impact: Solid-state optics may overhaul how data centers handle optical networking.

4. Downstream effect: Broader deployment could accelerate adoption in AV and automation sectors.

Source:
TechCrunch – Full Article – Rebecca Szkutak