Apollo Optical Systems' CEO Don Ehinger joined the AutoSens InCabin series for an in-depth conversation about the company’s role in advancing optical technology for the automotive industry. InCabin connects a global community of automotive interior specialists working to improve in-cabin safety, comfort, and productivity through innovation, collaboration, and shared expertise.
In the interview, Don highlighted AOS’s origins, capabilities, and unique value in a rapidly evolving automotive landscape. Based in Rochester, New York, Apollo specializes in polymer optics — a field where precision, expertise, and advanced manufacturing processes are critical. Founded by pioneers in single-point diamond turning and polymer injection molding, AOS has built a reputation for helping customers across multiple industries — including automotive, life sciences, semiconductors, defense, and AR/VR — solve complex optical challenges.
The Role of Polymer Optics in Automotive Sensing
Don explained that within the automotive sector, polymer optics are now integral to applications such as driver monitoring, side-object detection, in-cabin sensing, LiDAR, heads-up displays, and directed lighting. Each of these systems relies on optical components to achieve the performance and reliability automakers require.
For example, in driver monitoring systems, optics work alongside airbags and advanced safety features such as multi-stage deployment and occupant position sensing. These improvements mark a leap forward from earlier-generation systems, enhancing both driver safety and passenger protection. As vehicles move toward higher levels of autonomy (Levels 4 and 5), the demand for photonic components — many of which use polymer optics — continues to grow.
Addressing Customer Pain Points
Many Apollo customers know what they want their optical components to accomplish but may not have deep optical engineering expertise. Apollo Optical Systems bridges that gap.
Through a robust design for manufacturing (DFM) process, Apollo ensures that designs are optimized for performance, cost-efficiency, and manufacturability. The company’s expertise in optics, molding, diamond turning, thin-film coating, and metrology allows it to deliver high-yield, high-precision components that meet stringent industry requirements.
This expertise is especially valuable in the automotive industry, where tight tolerances, reliability, and scalability are non-negotiable.
How Apollo Differs from Traditional Injection Molders
Don drew an important distinction between traditional plastic injection molding and optical injection molding.
While many procurement teams are familiar with standard plastic parts, optical components require far more precision. Polymer optics often match the performance of traditional glass optics but offer key advantages for automotive applications:
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Lightweight design
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Lower cost at large production volumes
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Ability to integrate additional features (such as mounting tabs) directly into the component
Producing these parts requires specialized optical engineering knowledge, precision metrology tools, and surface-quality measurement capabilities that traditional molders typically lack. Tight tolerances and optical surface accuracy are essential — and Apollo’s team is equipped with both the technical skills and the manufacturing technology to meet these demands.
Looking Ahead in In-Cabin Innovation
Don emphasized that vehicle safety remains a top priority for automakers, and in-cabin sensing technologies are advancing rapidly. With autonomous driving on the horizon, the need for more sophisticated sensing systems — and by extension, high-performance optical components — will continue to expand.
For Apollo Optical Systems, the automotive market represents a major growth area. Its polymer optics expertise positions the company to meet the evolving needs of manufacturers seeking high-quality, scalable solutions for next-generation vehicles.
Continuing the Conversation
The AutoSens InCabin interview underscores Apollo Optical Systems’ leadership in precision optics and its commitment to supporting industries where performance and reliability are paramount.
While the AutoSens event in Detroit has passed, Apollo continues to share its insights and innovations with the global automotive community through ongoing industry events, technical discussions, and collaborative projects.
To learn more about Apollo Optical Systems and its capabilities in polymer optics for automotive applications — and beyond — visit apollooptical.com.