[In the photo: Dataspeed’s autonomous vehicle platform. Credit: Dataspeed]

Innoviz announced the expansion of its partnership with U.S.-based company Dataspeed, under which its InnovizSMART LiDAR sensor will be integrated into Dataspeed’s drive-by-wire platforms used to develop and test autonomous vehicles.

According to the announcement, Innoviz’s sensor will become an integral component of Dataspeed’s vehicle platforms, which enable full computer control over core vehicle systems—including steering, braking, and throttle—and are used by companies and organizations developing autonomous technologies. As part of the collaboration, Dataspeed will offer InnovizSMART sensors as part of the systems it supplies to customers, primarily in North America.

The joint solution targets a range of autonomy applications, including vehicles used in defense, agriculture, mining, industry, and ground robotics—sectors where autonomous vehicles often operate in challenging environments such as farmland, open-pit mines, and desert terrain.

Dataspeed, headquartered in Michigan, specializes in developing vehicle platforms designed for the testing and development of autonomous driving systems. The company provides drive-by-wire systems that allow computers to control vehicles through electronic interfaces, effectively transforming production vehicles into testing platforms for automotive companies, startups, universities, and research labs.

The company’s platforms are used by a wide range of organizations in the autonomy industry to integrate sensors, AI computers, and algorithms for the development of autonomous driving systems. According to Dataspeed, its technology has been deployed in more than 500 vehicles worldwide. Vehicle models converted using its platform include the Ford Fusion, Lincoln MKZ, Chrysler Pacifica, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and Ford Ranger.

Beyond civilian uses, Dataspeed’s platforms are also employed in defense and ground robotics projects, including development programs for government agencies and initiatives linked to the U.S. Army focused on autonomous ground vehicles.

The InnovizSMART sensor that will be integrated into Dataspeed’s platforms is a 3D LiDAR system designed primarily for industrial and autonomous applications outside the passenger-car market. Unlike the company’s flagship sensors—InnovizOne and InnovizTwo—designed for integration into production vehicles by automakers, InnovizSMART was developed specifically for markets such as robotics, agriculture, mining, and defense, where durability and operational flexibility are often more critical than strict automotive certification.

The sensor provides high-resolution, long-range three-dimensional mapping of the environment and is engineered to operate reliably in harsh conditions—including scenarios in which the sensor window may be covered with mud, water, or dust. These capabilities make it particularly suitable for autonomous vehicles operating in challenging environments such as mining sites, agricultural fields, or off-road terrain. The platform also enables Innoviz to address a broader market of autonomy and Physical AI applications beyond the traditional automotive industry.