— A Fully Solid-State Large-Array SPAD-SoC Chip Paves the Way for “Made in China” Innovation
Introduction: Rising Demand, a Domestic Breakthrough
In a recent exclusive interview with Exportsemi, Fortsense Technologies unveiled its first mass-produced large-array SPAD-SoC chip, the FL6031. No larger than a fingernail, this tiny chip embodies a big ambition—turning China from a follower into a leader in the global lidar race.
Driven by the rapid rise of autonomous driving, robotics, and the emerging low-altitude economy, the global lidar market is projected to exceed $100 billion by 2030. However, the field has long been dominated by international giants, with Chinese manufacturers heavily reliant on expensive, imported chips. This dependency has created both cost and technological barriers that hinder domestic innovation.
Fortsense is changing that. With its self-developed, fully solid-state SPAD-SoC (Single Photon Avalanche Diode System-on-Chip), it has become the only Chinese company to achieve mass production in this domain. Since the launch of the FL6031 in 2023, Fortsense has secured bulk orders from automakers and robotics firms alike—marking China’s official entry into the era of autonomous, controllable lidar chips.
Image: Fortsense’s fully solid-state SPAD-SoC and lidar solution based on the FL6031
1. Technology Breakthrough: From Catching Up to Leading the Way
FL6031: World-Class Performance in a Compact Package
Fortsense’s FL6031 is the world’s first mass-produced, large-array SPAD-SoC chip designed for fully solid-state lidar. Its specifications rival top international benchmarks:
54,000-pixel point cloud resolution: Capable of identifying objects as small as 5 cm in diameter—equivalent to 150-line traditional lidar imaging.
±5 cm ranging accuracy: Enables high-precision SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping), crucial for autonomous navigation.
50-meter range in direct sunlight: Overcomes performance limitations in complex outdoor lighting conditions.
120°×50° field of view, expandable: Supports broad coverage for applications such as low-speed autonomous vehicles and industrial robots.
Disruptive Integration: Smaller Size, Lower Cost
Traditional mechanical lidar systems rely on bulky rotating components and hundreds of discrete parts, making them costly and vibration-prone. Fortsense's highly integrated chip design consolidates elements like TIA, ADC, and TDC onto a single chip, reducing the receiver area by 99.3% (1/140th the size) and eliminating all moving parts. The result?
60% lower power consumption
Over 50% cost reduction
"As lidar becomes chip-based, it’s no longer a precision instrument—it’s just a circuit board," said Fortsense founder Moliang Hua. "Our vision is to make lidar as ubiquitous and accessible as the camera."
2. Market Positioning: Leading with Volume, Aiming Global
First to Mass Production Among Domestic Players
Among China’s solid-state lidar chip pioneers—Fortsense, Suzhou OptTime, and Lingming Photonics—only Fortsense has successfully transitioned from lab to factory. In 2022, it secured custom orders from a major automaker, and in 2023, it began volume delivery of the FL6031. Today, Fortsense supplies over 10 domestic lidar manufacturers.
“Chinese chips have long been criticized as theoretical, but Fortsense has shown they can deliver,” noted one industry analyst.
Going Global: Elderly Care Robots and Industrial Automation
Fortsense is also exploring fast-growing international markets:
Elderly care robots: Aging populations in Japan and Europe are driving demand for companion robots. Fortsense's chip enables precise indoor navigation and obstacle avoidance, and the company is already in talks with overseas partners.
Industrial automation: With global manufacturing moving toward automation, AGVs and AMRs are in high demand. The FL6031’s high reliability makes it ideal for factory environments, and testing is underway with German and South Korean companies.
3. Building the Ecosystem: Strengthening the Domestic Supply Chain
Fortsense’s success is rooted in strategic supply chain integration across all stages:
Upstream fabrication: Utilizes BSI 3D stacking technology for optimal chip performance and yield.
Midstream development: Co-develops core modules with industry partners for FLASH lidar, reducing the barrier for customers.
Downstream applications: Collaborates on algorithm development for robots and autonomous vehicles to accelerate real-world deployment.
“We don’t just make chips—we make them usable and accessible across the entire ecosystem,” Hua emphasized.
4. The Final Stretch: From Chip to Ecosystem
Despite its lead, Fortsense still faces challenges on the road ahead:
Algorithm adaptation: Solid-state lidar produces point cloud data that differs from mechanical systems, requiring clients to redesign algorithms—a costly upfront investment.
Immature domestic ecosystem: Some supporting components and processes still need time to mature.
Rising global competition: Giants like Sony are entering the SPAD market, bringing both patent pressures and price wars.
Fortsense is tackling these head-on with a multi-pronged strategy:
Industry-specific customization: Future chips will target distinct sectors to meet tailored needs.
Ecosystem collaboration: Ongoing R&D investment in high-precision timing (TDC) and anti-interference capabilities.
Cost reduction through scale: Continuous mass production to lower chip prices and drive widespread lidar adoption.
Conclusion: Defining the Future of “China Inside”
From dependence to global competition, Fortsense’s rise is more than a technical achievement—it symbolizes China’s broader journey from follower to leader in the semiconductor supply chain.
As Hua puts it, “The ultimate form of lidar will be chip-based. And we believe that in the near future, every robot and autonomous vehicle will carry a chip that proudly says: Made in China.”
In the age of smart everything, Fortsense is betting on one chip to unlock a trillion-dollar future.
