Zendar
Zendar, headquartered in Berkeley, CA, develops high-definition radar technology for autonomous vehicles using its proprietary Distributed Aperture Radar (DAR) technology.
Company Overview
Zendar, previously known as Aperture Synthesis Inc., is a company headquartered in Berkeley, CA, USA, specializing in developing high-definition radar systems for autonomous vehicles. Founded in 2017 by Vinayak Nagpal and Jimmy Wang, both Ph.D. alumni from UC Berkeley, Zendar operates in the automotive sub-industry under the broader industrials sector. The company employs a team of 45 people and is active in regions including the United States, America, and Canada.
Founders
Zendar was founded in 2017 by Vinayak Nagpal and Jimmy Wang, who both hold Ph.D. degrees from UC Berkeley. Their expertise has been pivotal in steering the company towards groundbreaking innovations in radar technology for autonomous vehicles. Both founders bring significant academic and industry-specific knowledge to Zendar, helping the company to achieve its goals.
Products and Innovations
Zendar is known for its high-definition radar systems designed for autonomous vehicles. Utilizing Distributed Aperture Radar (DAR) technology, their systems provide enhanced object detection and tracking, long-range velocity information, and high reliability in various weather and lighting conditions. This technology allows their radars to deliver 10x higher resolution compared to existing solutions. Additionally, Zendar decouples signal processing from radar hardware, enabling advanced software processing on the vehicle's ADAS ECU while keeping radar sensors compact and cost-effective.
Locations and Team
Zendar's headquarters is located in Berkeley, CA, USA. The company also has additional locations in Wangen im Allgäu, Germany, and Paris, France. Zendar's team consists of 45 members, contributing to the development and innovation of their radar technology solutions. The company participates in Y-Combinator's S17 batch and is actively expanding its team, with job openings listed on their website. Zendar provides competitive compensation, equity, and comprehensive benefits, which include daily catered lunch, medical, dental, and vision insurance, life insurance, flexible spending accounts (FSA), and more.
Technology and Development
Zendar is at the forefront of radar technology innovation, specifically for autonomous vehicles. Their use of Distributed Aperture Radar (DAR) technology represents a significant advancement in resolution, offering a 10x increase compared to existing radar systems. This technology separates signal processing from radar hardware, allowing complex processing software to run on the vehicle's Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) ECU. This approach not only enhances radar performance but also ensures that radar sensors remain small and cost-effective, supporting Zendar's mission to make autonomous driving safe and accessible.