Andy Tullis / The Bulletin file photoDennis Corey, left, and Bob Lewis, co-founders and co-owners of PulsedLight, display sensors made by their Bend company in this September photo.

Though Bob Lewis and Dennis Corey co-founded PulsedLight Inc. in 2011 to commercialize their optical sensor technology, much of the company’s visible progress has occurred in the past 12 months.

Since last summer, PulsedLight has moved into a larger space, received funding from out-of-state investors and launched a product line.

“It seems like every year, things just accelerate more and get crazier,” Corey said.

PulsedLight’s LIDAR-Lite optical sensors have a range of up to 40 meters, which makes them useful in a variety of industries, from unmanned aerial vehicles to automotive. Lidar, or light detection and ranging, measures and detects objects, much like radar.

Unlike similar sensors, the LIDAR-Lite’s signal processing method requires a single chip, which allows the company to use lower-cost electronic components, saving customers money in the process.

“The idea is that we produce the same performance at a much lower price point, or higher performance at the same price point,” Lewis said.

UAV companies are looking at the product as an option to help drones measure their altitude and avoid collisions, which Corey said an optical sensor can do more effectively than the ultrasonic systems in use by many commercial drones.

“Being able to not run into things is a big deal,” Corey said. “In general, giving the drone some ability to sense its surroundings and respond is a very good thing.”

Corey added that the company is still developing sensors for collision-avoidance systems in cars. Additionally, companies with need for additional sensor data — from individual sports performance to the depth and silt levels of bodies of water — have sought out PulsedLight.

Since the end of 2014, Corey said, the company has shipped 7,000 units, with 1,000 more ordered and ready to be shipped.

While PulsedLight works with companies from Canada to Latvia, the circuit boards are assembled by SisTech Manufacturing in Bend, which helps PulsedLight keep an eye on the process. SisTech owner Brad Kennedy said the overall process takes a little under two weeks to assemble and test the boards.

“It comes in as raw circuit and comes out complete,” Kennedy said.

Corey said the current level of production was just the beginning.

“Our goal next year would be approximately $3-$4 million in revenue, and in three years I think we would see ourselves at at least $20 million, if not higher,” Corey said.

The company’s growth was propelled by a $275,000 investment in October 2014 by the Massachusetts-based company Technical Communications Corp.

With a growing revenue stream, the company has doubled in size by adding two new employees. In addition, it moved to a new 1,300-square-foot facility on NW Hill Street. PulsedLight was located in TechSpace Bend, but the co-working organization moved.

“When they made the decision to move into their new space, we realized it just wasn’t going to work for us, because we just needed more space,” Corey said.

— Reporter: 541-617-7818, shamway@bendbulletin.com