Ouster Partners with Seneca to Advance Autonomous Drone Technology for Wildfire Response Operations

Ouster's REV8 OS1 Max native color digital lidar powers next-generation autonomous drones with enhanced 3D perception for safer, faster operations in complex wildfire environments

Ouster, Inc. (Nasdaq: OUST), a leader in sensing and perception for Physical AI, and Seneca, an autonomous aviation company developing advanced drone technology to support wildfire response, today announced a partnership to integrate Ouster's Rev8 native color lidar into Seneca's autonomous drone platform.

The collaboration combines Ouster's high-resolution, rugged Rev8 OS1 Max digital lidar with Seneca's autonomous drone platform to enhance perception, navigation, and obstacle avoidance in demanding outdoor environments. By integrating the digital lidar into its perception stack, Seneca aims to enable its drones to operate safely at higher speeds across the three mission areas that define its platform: carrying heavy cargo to the fire line, following terrain for mapping and vegetation management, and inspecting structures and utility infrastructure. Longer range gives an aircraft more time to react to what is ahead, and 256 channels at up to 4K horizontal resolution hold that detail as speed increases.

Smoke, dust, rapidly changing terrain, and limited visibility make wildfire operations uniquely challenging for autonomous aircraft. Previously, Seneca relied on infrared sensors and cameras for collision avoidance, mapping, and object detection. With Ouster's Rev8 native color digital lidar, Seneca generates a precise 3D representation of its surroundings, delivering reliable navigation and environmental awareness whether a drone is hauling cargo, tracing a ridgeline, or inspecting a utility span in harsh and unpredictable conditions.

"Seneca's fire agency partners operate in some of the most unforgiving environments - obviously heat, but also sometimes extreme cold. Ouster Rev8 OS1 Max has been invaluable in minimizing concerns about sensor durability and performance," said Stuart Landesberg, CEO of Seneca. "Its IP68/IP69K rating, shock tolerance, and broad temperature range mean we can fly in conditions that would ground other platforms, meaning we can support firefighters, utilities, and communities on missions that were previously unsafe, inefficient, or impossible."

Seneca selected the Ouster Rev8 OS1 Max for its performance, its qualification from -40 °C to +85 °C for the range of conditions fire crews work in, responsive engineering support, and a product roadmap aligned with the future of autonomous systems. Ouster's NDAA §164 and BABA-compliant digital lidar platform also supports Seneca's commitment to aircraft that are designed and assembled in America.

"Reliable lidar and perception technologies are the foundation of autonomous systems operating in the physical world," said Angus Pacala, CEO of Ouster. "Our digital lidar equips Seneca with accurate, real-time 3D perception data that enhances environmental awareness and supports safe, reliable autonomous flights for drone-based firefighting missions."

About Ouster

Ouster (Nasdaq: OUST) is a global leader in high-performance lidar sensors and intelligent software solutions that bring physical AI to life across the automotive, industrial, robotics, and smart infrastructure sectors. Ouster's technology delivers performance, reliability, and affordability to accelerate the adoption of autonomous systems at scale and drive meaningful improvements in safety, efficiency, and sustainability. Ouster is headquartered in San Francisco, CA, with offices in the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. For more information about our products, visit www.ouster.com, contact our sales team, or connect with us on X or LinkedIn.

About Seneca

Seneca builds advanced firefighting technology for situations that were previously unsafe, inefficient, or impossible. Based in Sausalito, California, the company develops autonomous heavy-lift drone systems that carry suppressant to the fire line, follow terrain for mapping and vegetation management, and inspect structures and utility infrastructure, with one pilot operating multiple aircraft. Seneca's systems are designed, built, and sourced in America, and serve fire agencies, utilities, and property owners. The company's mission is to protect 500 million acres in the U.S. and allied nations by 2035.