Teradar, a US automotive vision-technology start-up, has emerged from stealth after raising $150m in a Series B round. 

Led by Somerville, Massachusetts-based VXI Capital, the round saw participation from IBEX Investors, Capricorn Investment Group in New York, MIT-affiliated The Engine Ventures and Lockheed Martin Ventures. 

The company develops terahertz (THz) vision technology and says the funding will support scaling its Modular Terahertz Engine (MTE) as it pursues commercial vehicle production by 2028.  

Teradar also unveiled what it describes as the first commercial sensing technology operating in the THz band, the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum between microwaves and infrared. 

The firm claims its system delivers up to 20 times the resolution of existing automotive radar, enabling high-resolution imaging in all weather and lighting conditions. 

According to Teradar, the MTE can be customised for use across advanced driver-assistance systems and autonomous driving from levels one to five.  

The company is currently collaborating with five automotive original-equipment manufacturers in the US and Europe, as well as three Tier 1 suppliers, on integration and validation. 

Beyond automotive applications, Teradar is also targeting defence, healthcare, and manufacturing markets. 

Teradar says enhanced perception from THz waves could potentially prevent more than 150,000 fatal accidents worldwide each year. 

Teradar co-founder and CEO Matt Carey said: "Teradar has made terahertz vision a reality by bringing unprecedented resolution and awareness at long range in any weather. This breakthrough provides vehicles the perception needed to anticipate danger, avoid accidents, and, ultimately, save lives. 

“Ultimately our goal is to eliminate automotive accidents altogether through dramatically better perception, and this vision can only be achieved with robust, high-performance sensors that can be easily integrated and scaled to support every type of vehicle.”