Israeli startup TriEye has developed a CMOS-based SWIR (short-wave infrared) camera. Recently, after a decade of nanophotonics research, the company released “Sparrow”, which will be the focus of collaboration as DENSO Automotive Manufacturer and Porsche AG evaluate and test the camera aimed to improve visibility in tough conditions.

The SWIR camera allows for clearer vision in bad weather and when it is dark out, offering a solution for low visibility challenges faced by ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems) and autonomous vehicles (AV). The “Sparrow” can easily be integrated as a standard visible camera while also repurposing and reusing visible image AI algorithms. Essentially saving a lot of time, recollecting data over millions of miles.

TriEye’s innovative camera provides better “vision” for your future autonomous car while you scoot down the road in the worst of conditions. It utilizes SWIR technology, which was previously only really harnessed in massive and expensive machines used by military and space exploration agencies. However, the Israeli startup was able to take the pricey camera and scale it to size, making it a better functional fit for a multitude of industries while also making it way more affordable.

L to R: Prof. Uriel Levy, Avi Bakal, Omer Kapach source: TriEye

With both DENSO and Porsche on board to evaluate the product, the company additionally sent the “Sparrow” to non-automotive customers in an effort to help solve complex industrial issues. “We are proud and delighted to announce our collaboration with DENSO which marks a meaningful step forward in delivering our mission of solving the low visibility challenge,” said Avi Bakal, TriEye’s Co-Founder and CEO, “The joint work has been greatly beneficial since day one, bringing together DENSO’s innovative approach and market experience with TriEye groundbreaking technology.“


While the excitement from the “Sparrow” has yet to die down, the company also noted that it intends on launching the “Raven”, a CMOS-based SWIR HD camera, later this year. All this adds to an already successful year where the company raised $19 million in a Series A round led by Intel Capital, Porsche Ventures, and Grove Ventures. TriEye which was founded in 2017 by CEO Avi Bakal, CTO Prof. Uriel Levy, and VP of R&D Omer Kapach, has raised a total of $22 million up-to-date.