Mirada Technologies

Mirada Technologies Inc., established in March 2017, is a developer of core components for advanced LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) systems. The company was founded by Andrew Miner, Ph.D., and Jon Mapel, Ph.D., two individuals with extensive backgrounds in technology and startups. Andrew Miner, the CEO, has a 17-year history of building innovative products and companies, including delivering products to automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers. Jon Mapel, serving as the Head of Technology, is an expert in photonic systems and microelectronics. Their combined expertise directly informs the company's mission to create high-performance, reliable sensing technology for autonomous vehicles.

The firm operates in the autonomous vehicle and industrial vision systems market, providing the foundational hardware that enables vehicles and machines to perceive their surroundings in three dimensions. The business model is centered on B2B sales of these critical components to manufacturers and technology integrators in the autonomous driving and industrial automation sectors. Mirada Technologies has secured funding through at least two rounds, including a seed round in September 2017 involving investors like Plug and Play Tech Center, and a grant from America's Seed Fund in April 2019 for $966,000.

Mirada's core technology aims to solve key challenges in the LiDAR space. The company has focused on developing a high-speed, wide-angle laser beam steering technology that leverages magneto-hydro-dynamics and neutrally buoyant optomechanics. This approach is designed to allow light beams to be swept across a wide field of view at a high frame rate, generating the 3D point cloud data essential for navigation. A significant benefit of this design is its intended operational immunity to vibrations from road hazards, a critical feature for real-world automotive deployment. By focusing on creating cost-effective, scalable, and reliable components, Mirada positions itself as an enabling technology provider for the broader adoption of autonomous systems.

Keywords: LiDAR components, autonomous vehicles, laser scanning technology, photonic systems, microelectronics, automotive sensors, machine vision, 3D point cloud, magneto-hydro-dynamics, optomechanics, autonomous driving hardware, industrial vision systems, Andrew Miner, Jon Mapel, America's Seed Fund, Plug and Play Tech Center, beam steering, transportation technology