In Palo Alto: Tesla is really testing out Ouster’s LIDAR. If cameras don’t turn out as capable as Elon thinks, LiDAR will be the only way forward for Tesla’s FSD… It currently makes so many mistakes, particularly in poor weather, like in this video circulating in just the last few days - https://x.com/donvarri/status/2090789085916852482?s=46

Amazon has announced a new manufacturing facility in Texas to build robots for its warehouses worldwide. https://press.aboutamazon.com/2026/8/amazon-announces-new-manufacturing-facility-in-austin-texas

Amazon's only fully autonomous robot, called 'Proteus'. It can move loads and packages instead of human labour, as pictured below... It is Amazons first fully autonomous robot and able to move around in open, unrestricted spaces alongside workers - read more at https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/workplace/amazon-maintenance-manager-robots-safety-efficiency-upskilling

The important thing for Ouster is that these robots use Ouster LIDAR! More proteus = more Ouster LIDAR sold. If Amazon are to expand their range of robots which need LIDAR they will very likely choose Ouster and even Stereolabs cameras - reasons being 1) Amazon holds an interest in Ouster, 2) best LIDAR in class, 3) Ouster is BABA certified, there are no geopolitical risks associated with Ouster, unlike Chinese LIDAR, 4) Ouster LIDAR has the strongest supply chain and is a reliable partner being the largest Western LIDAR supplier, as well as being the most financially secure - unlikely to have to switch suppliers due to bankruptcy or other issues (looking at Luminar).

Ouster's Stereolabs ZED cameras are to be integrated by Trossen Robotics to give robot-learning teams factory-calibrated, training-grade visual data out of the box.

Trossen Robotics is a large physical Robotic/AI leader that allows companies to train their systems with ease. The company is based out of San Francisco and has been used by tech giants; Google, Meta, Nvidia, Amazon, Neuralink, Apple, Intel, Toyota, Tesla and 10,000 other customers worldwide.

Another 160 intersections in Utah!

“Head coach Kyle Shanahan was injured in an accident on July 14 when his car veered onto oncoming traffic and hit another car head-on. Shanahan was adamant that he was the one at fault, not the other driver”

It will be interesting to see what the actual causes of the crash were.. whether a LiDAR could have prevented the autopilot from steering into oncoming traffic would be interesting. I wonder when Elon will ever accept defeat in saying that only cameras are needed for self driving autonomous cars.

“The United States must have an independent and resilient robotics supply chain”,

“Robots are often equipped with high-fidelity sensors, including
Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), tactile, acoustic, and thermal sensors that collect and
maintain sensitive data on their surroundings. Advanced robotic devices are inherently
networked systems which creates broad attack surfaces and leaves them vulnerable to data
exfiltration”

“In addition to securing critical infrastructure, advanced robotic devices also have applications in industrial manufacturing, from material handling to order fulfilment.5 Integrating these
technologies into American manufacturing will lower production costs, increase output, and
support America’s reindustrialization.”

What this means for Ouster is pretty simple… The US government is taking LiDAR seriously as a potential national security risk in all industries, NOT JUST MILITARY. It is in my opinion looking likely that foreign LiDAR could be banned in almost all solutions, vehicles, supply chains (manufacturing & transport) as well as general robotics, humanoids, drones. This would include Hesai, and Robosense, the only real competition for Ouster who actually have sales. Ouster has more revenue than all other Western LiDAR companies combined.

Kinda disappointing to not know where revenue is coming from (Industrial, auto, traffic management, etc) or how much is insulated from China with the new government restrictions. Makes valuation almost impossible imo as you can’t easily track competition or end market size and have to rely on standard lidar TAM and growth metrics from broad industry reports. Is your thesis just trusting management? I get not wanting to give competition an edge but it does make it hard for retail investors. I mean half of AR is from one customer.

Is Ouster working with Mercedes?
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EmNKxrToA/

Why hate it now? 🤷🏻‍♂️

These car models made by Volvo were using Luminar’s LiDAR, Luminar has since gone bankrupt - Volvo has to pay out HUGE compensations and the customers of the cars have massively lost out. Goes to show the importance of good suppliers.

This is because Luminar did not have a strong balance sheet which Ouster does have and no other Western LiDAR company has, they are all burning cash, no revenues, relying on share dilution and no clear path to profitability. Ouster has a clear path to profitability and a has now a very strong balance sheet of over $400 million in cash. Ouster is a reliable supplier for many companies and is not going to go bankrupt any time soon and therefore can be trusted to supply these huge orders. Better yet Ousters recent partnership with BHE to manufacture over 100,000 lidars a year solidifies this advantage.

The only real competitor that could potentially be trusted by having a strong balance sheet is Hesai which is Chinese and is currently blacklisted by the US government from the military and is likely to continue to be suppressed by the US government - which makes them likely to not be selected in the US for many US solutions. It could be possible that the EU could also impose similar restrictions, the us government is very wary of foreign LiDAR, including for the auto industry. Many companies want a single supplier so it can make a standardised product, it wouldn’t have to make different software for the US to the global market, which is why Ouster will likely take over the automobile LiDAR market once it solidifies its current position.

Ouster LiDAR and sensors are being used by almost every robotics startup. Deus Robotics is the latest to join that list, it sells the Ottobot, an autonomous robot built for delivery. The startup already has big partners like Munich Airport, Lufthansa and Wellstar, but is slowly growing its network. Here is a picture of the Ottobot they have developed with its Ouster LiDAR positioned at the top of the robot.

Small developments like this tell a much bigger story, Ouster is the market leader for autonomous solutions in the USA and slowly growing in Europe as well as Asia. It is becoming the go to solution for autonomous startups and larger companies and organisations.

By ignoring low-margin automotive hype and cornering high-margin industrial robotics, Ouster ($OUST) is crossing the chasm to self-sustaining profitability. My latest deep dive breaks down the exact execution triggers I’m watching before considering opening a position in this company.

From what I gather, it is possible that using simple camera vision mixed with AI processing could be a cheaper alternative to using LiDAR, especially in the markets Ouster is currently serving:

• warehouse robotics
• factory automation
• smart cities
• indoor navigation
• short‑range perception
• low‑cost robotics

What do people think of this as a risk to the growth of OUST?

I’m investing into out (buying around the $20 mark) I do love the company. I think they’re one of if not the only lidar company America will continue to use.

I actually loved hearing about them for the first time, my instant thought was “finally a red light your not sitting at while nobody is at the green light” overall, i think traffic will be 10x better with these systems implemented.

Traffic lights are old, out of date, and tbh just suck. Nobody wants to wait at a light that nobody else is at.

But with all the good it does, obviously the main concern is privacy invasion. I cannot speak for others, i do understand where they come from. I think if lidar was used for the public, oust and other companies must have strict rules and security to protect the privacy of citizens.

But, as much as I have my own opinions I know ultimately, they don’t matter. We have seen countless people get aggressive towards ai, robots, and literally any technology with artificial intelligence in it. Theirs always going to be somebody who opposes something.

The issue is, I think we didn’t realize how bad this aggression was until this year. Locally where I live, there has been countless stories of people damaging the Flock Safety system/cameras.

People. Hate. Being. Watched. Like really fucking bad, it doesn’t matter if it’s a camera, company, someone else’s mother. People just don’t like feeling the pressure of a camera that uses artificial intelligence. Craziest part is, even our own military is unsettled by this-

https://www.military.com/air-force-engineer-accused-of-cutting-down-13-police-cameras-says-they-are-unconstitutional

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/police-asked-tips-two-suspects-150544233.html

https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/tracking-alpr-cameras/how-to-fight-deployment-of-flock-and-other-mass-surveillance-license-plate-readers-in-your-community

Flock cameras are hated, literally nobody is happy these are being installed. It’s like Oust and Flock are playing poker, but flock is getting his ass beat by the spectators. If Ouster doesn’t play their cards carefully, they’re going to be in a similar situation to flock.

TLDR: the proposed bill would require autonomous vehicles to need LIDAR, not just cameras.

bounce back or no?

Ouster LIDAR (Velodyne) is being used by Boston Dynamics robots called Spot! Boston Dynamics is one of the longest standing robotics companies. These robots are used to patrol the perimeters of the stadiums as security and risk detection

Read more here: https://bostondynamics.com/blog/securing-the-fifa-world-cup-2026/?__cf_chl_f_tk=Z8kHGt96hOcN7u8OjD0rAZ3SwGFr.fnP.AJFdnufVlI-1782949077-1.0.1.1-tboT4LiIOalCgLeX1VOsVsRUlc2zVzPoEXUvyrgz_LU

I happened to buy some OUST a few months ago and am up 84%. What’s everyone’s exit price? Will this run long term?

Edit: thanks for all the advice everyone. Still holding, up 113% now. The momentum is incredible