Velodyne has signed a multi-year sales agreement with middle mile automation specialist Gatik. Employing Velodyne sensors, Gatik has established an autonomous middle mile transportation network across North America.

Gatik fulfills autonomous orders daily for multiple Fortune 500 customers in the US and Canada, including Walmart, between micro-fulfilment centres, dark stores and retail locations – a logistics flow known as the middle mile. 

Gatik uses Velodyne’s Alpha Prime and Ultra Puck lidar sensors to support short-haul logistics for real-time autonomous operations. Gatik operates a fleet of class 3-6 trucks, equipped with multi-temperature compartments, 7 days a week, 12 hours a day, on routes up to 300 miles in multiple markets across North America. Gatik’s solution helps retailers meet consumer demand for rapid delivery of goods driven by soaring e-commerce growth.

Velodyne’s Alpha Prime and Ultra Puck sensors, which use Velodyne’s patented 3D surround view technology, provide real-time object detection needed for safe navigation and reliable operation. The sensors provide the range, accuracy and resolution that make them ideal solutions for autonomous logistics services. They detect and track vehicles, pedestrians and other obstructions to help autonomous vehicles safely navigate at various speeds, traveling night and day in a range of road conditions such as rain, sleet and snow.

“Velodyne’s sensor solutions have the proven performance, reliability and resilience our AVs need to operate safely and efficiently in complex urban operational design domains,” said Arjun Narang, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Gatik. “We’re excited to be rapidly scaling our autonomous solution with the support of Velodyne’s industry-leading lidar technology.”

“Gatik is bringing autonomous delivery into the mainstream and creating significant efficiencies in supply chain logistics for retailers. It may be an eye-opener for many people to learn that Gatik’s AVs using Velodyne’s sensors were likely involved in delivering some of the goods they are using in their homes,” said Anand Gopalan, Chief Executive Officer, Velodyne Lidar. “They are demonstrating how Velodyne sensors help AVs provide efficient and safe movement of goods.”