Volvo Cars and Luminar are partnering to develop lidar sensor and perception technology in order to advance the move to autonomous vehicles.
Lidar, in addition to other types of sensors in vehicles, is considered one of the crucial elements for creating safe self-driving cars. The sensing technology allows autonomous cars to navigate safely in complex traffic environments and at higher speeds with long-range perception abilities.
Unveiled at the Automobility LA trade show in Los Angeles, the perception capabilities can detect human poses, including individual limbs such as arms and legs. The technology can detect objects at a range of up to 250 meters, which the companies claim is further range than any lidar technology available today.
“Autonomous technology will take driving safely to a new level, beyond human limitations,” said Henrik Green, senior vice president for research and development at Volvo. “Ultimately, the technology will also create new benefits for our customers and society as a whole.”
Volvo took a stake in Luminar earlier this year to focus on development and testing of sensing technology for future Volvo self-driving cars, specifically to leverage the Luminar’s perception platform.
