Key Takeaways

•Benewake introduces SR Series: A compact, power-efficient 360° 3D LiDAR family for mobile robots, with an initial lineup comprising the 18-channel SR18 and the 96-channel SR96.

•SR18 in mass production: The first model in the series to enter mass production, the SR18 weighs 190 g and consumes 5 W or less on average.

•Stable perception: Both models use Benewake’s proprietary architecture to help reduce inter-channel crosstalk in complex environments.

•Small blind zones: Both models combine small blind zones with downward-angled sensing channels.

•Remote firmware updates: Both models support remote firmware updates, simplifying sensor maintenance after deployment.

•Cost-effective deployment, global availability: The SR Series is designed to bring competitively priced 3D sensing to robot manufacturers worldwide. Priced at US$299, the SR18 will be available worldwide starting November 30, 2026.

October 30, 2026 — Benewake today introduced its SR Series, a family of compact, power-efficient 360° 3D LiDARs designed for mobile robots. The initial lineup comprises the 18-channel SR18 and the 96-channel SR96, with the SR18 now in mass production.

Both models are designed to accommodate the space and power constraints of mobile robots, while Benewake’s pioneering integrated sensing architecture supports stable perception in complex, reflective environments. The series also combines minimal blind zones with long-range detection. Its innovative remote firmware update capability helps robot manufacturers worldwide simplify maintenance after large-scale deployment. Priced at US$299, the SR18 will be available globally starting November 30, 2026.

The SR Series is designed for applications including commercial cleaning robots, robotic lawn mowers, quadruped robots, embodied AI platforms, last-mile delivery robots, and industrial mobile robots.

Compact Design, Low Power Consumption

Measuring 71.8 mm in diameter and 64 mm in height, the SR18 is roughly the size of a Rubik’s Cube and weighs 190 g. Its compact form factor supports flexible mounting, giving developers more freedom to incorporate 3D sensing into space-constrained robot designs.

Average power consumption of no more than 5 W helps the SR18 fit within the limited power budgets of battery-powered robots.

Stable Perception in Challenging Environments

Reflective signage and glossy surfaces in shopping centers and factories can challenge SLAM and perception. In some conventional multi-channel LiDAR designs, strong return signals may interfere with measurements in neighboring sensing channels—a problem known as inter-channel crosstalk. The resulting spurious points or distorted object boundaries can make it harder for robots to build accurate maps and maintain reliable localization.

The SR18 addresses this challenge through Benewake’s proprietary integrated transmitter-receiver architecture, which pairs each laser emitter with a dedicated photodetector. By reducing interference between channels, the design helps preserve object contours and maintain consistent ranging data in environments with strong reflections, reducing the risk of robots getting lost.

An IP66-rated enclosure and an operating temperature range of −20°C to +60°C further support deployment across indoor and outdoor settings.

Minimal Blind Spot, All-Around Coverage

The SR18 detects objects as close as 15 cm and provides 360° horizontal coverage, with a vertical field of view from −8° to +40°. Its downward-angled sensing channels extend coverage toward the ground, helping robot perception systems detect low-lying obstacles and changes in terrain. A detection range of up to 30 m at 10% reflectivity also provides information about the surroundings farther ahead.

This downward coverage is particularly useful for robotic lawn mowers, whose body-mounted sensors tilt upward as they climb slopes. As a mower approaches a cliff, the SR18’s downward-angled channels help detect terrain changes as they come into view, providing data that can help identify sudden descents or drop-offs and reduce the risk of falls and resulting damage.

Built for Scale: Remote Firmware Updates and Global Availability

Priced at US$299, the SR18 will be available worldwide starting November 30, 2026, bringing compact 3D sensing to cost-sensitive robot applications.

Support for remote firmware updates helps manufacturers maintain sensors after deployment, reducing the need for on-site servicing. As new firmware becomes available, supported feature enhancements and performance improvements can be delivered to deployed sensors without replacing the hardware.

About Benewake

Founded in 2015, Benewake is a provider of AI-native perception solutions for the physical AI era, with a mission to create the eyes that enable intelligent machines to perceive and understand the world. Guided by a model-defined hardware approach, the company continues to expand the capabilities of intelligent perception.

Drawing on full-stack expertise spanning optics, mechanical engineering, electronics, software, algorithms, and chip design, Benewake has built a comprehensive portfolio of “eyes for robots” across diverse applications. The company serves customers in more than 90 countries and regions, including major markets in Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific, supported by a global network spanning R&D, manufacturing, sales, and engineering services.