Hesai Unveils Picasso 6D Full-Color Lidar ASIC and Upgraded ETX Platform for L3 Autonomy
Hesai Technology introduced the world's first 6D full-color SPAD-SoC lidar platform, Picasso, and a next-generation ETX lidar with up to 4,320 channels, targeting mass production in late 2026 for L3 autonomous driving.
- 4,320
- 600 meters
- 230 million units
What Happened
Hesai Technology unveiled the world's first 6D full-color ultra-sensitive lidar ASIC platform, Picasso, at its 2026 Technology Open Day on April 17. The SPAD-SoC integrates RGB sensing and time-of-flight ranging at the chip level, enabling direct generation of colorized point clouds without complex sensor fusion. With photon detection efficiency exceeding 40%, Picasso delivers industry-leading sensitivity for long-range and low-light performance.
Built on the Picasso architecture, the next-generation ETX lidar platform features up to 4,320 channels and a maximum detection range of 600 meters (400 meters at 10% reflectivity). It can identify objects as small as 15×25 cm at 150 meters. ETX is expected to enter mass production in the second half of 2026, supporting L3 autonomous driving systems in multiple flagship vehicle models.
51%%
In February 2026, Hesai held 51% of the Chinese automotive lidar market, 2.2 times the second-ranked player.
Why this matters
The new technology enables vehicles to capture geometry and color natively on a single chip, improving perception of traffic signals and lane markings, which is critical for safe L3 autonomous driving.
Terms in This Story
- SPAD-SoC
- Single Photon Avalanche Diode System-on-Chip, a chip that integrates a SPAD sensor array with processing circuits.
- ToF
- Time-of-flight, a method of measuring distance by sending light pulses and timing their return.
- ASIC
- Application-Specific Integrated Circuit, a custom chip designed for a specific use rather than general-purpose.
- VDA 6.3
- A process audit standard from the German Association of the Automotive Industry, used to assess manufacturing quality.
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