If you want a clear idea of the boom in testing of autonomous vehicles, look to Velodyne Acoustics Inc., a Morgan Hill, Calif., maker of the all-important laser range finder that gives driverless cars their sight.

Velodyne, the world’s biggest supplier of the laser sensor used on autonomous vehicles in testing, expects to double its sensor sales in 2016 and has just begun shipping a new version that will cost as little as $500 at high volume. It is scaling up production and has outgrown its small factory south of San Jose.

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