STMicroelectronics Adds High-Resolution 3D LiDAR Module for Compact Edge AI

What happened: STMicroelectronics has launched the VL53L9, its first direct Time-of-Flight 3D LiDAR all-in-one module. The device offers 2,268 resolution zones in a 54×42 arrangement and a 54°×42° field of view. It measures distances from under 5 cm to 9 meters with up to 1 percent accuracy and runs up to 100 frames per second.

Why it matters: The module outputs AI-ready 2D infrared and 3D depth data and is built to run on small microcontrollers with low compute budgets. Its dual-scan flood illumination replaces dot scanning, reducing motion artifacts, removing dead zones, and improving small-object detection. On-chip processing lowers system complexity and reliance on an external application processor.

Industry context: The VL53L9 uses ST’s stacked BSI SPAD sensor technology and metasurface optical elements. It measures 12.8 mm × 6.1 mm × 4.6 mm, supports MIPI and I3C interfaces, runs on dual 1.2 V and 3.3 V supplies, and is rated Class 1 laser safe. The product target markets across robotics, industrial automation, smart buildings, AR/VR, and healthcare.