LiDAR tech maker Luminar and Mercedes-Benz have teamed up, and Luminar introduced automated emergency steering as a security function for its tech.
Luminar‘s LiDAR tech can detect security hazards and, with the newest announcement, take motion that may keep away from crashes utilizing Automated Emergency Steering, or taking on from the driving force. The corporate unveiled the information at CES 2024, the massive tech commerce present in Las Vegas this week.
LiDAR stands for Gentle Detection and Ranging. It’s a distant sensing methodology that makes use of gentle within the type of a pulsed laser to measure vary. If the laser hits one thing, it could possibly be an impediment or a pedestrian {that a} self-driving automobile or different automobile wants to concentrate on.
Increasing collaboration with Mercedes-Benz
Luminar’s partnership with Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Group unveiled a strategic collaboration to combine Luminar’s LiDAR expertise into the Official FIA F1 Security Automobile.
The high-speed capabilities of Luminar’s LiDAR expertise make it a becoming addition to the F1 Security Automobile, Luminar mentioned, because it enhances the automobile’s potential to detect each stationary and transferring objects beneath various circumstances. The combination will contain embedding Luminar’s expertise into the roofline of the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Sequence.
Debut of Iris+ and Automated Emergency Steering (AES)
At CES 2024, Luminar showcased its Automated Emergency Steering (AES) powered by the newly unveiled Iris+ LiDAR by dwell crash avoidance demonstrations on the monitor. Iris+ LiDAR expertise enhances Proactive Security, offering extra strong and sooner detection capabilities in comparison with current digicam and radar-driven superior driver help programs (ADAS) programs.
AES functionalities showcased the potential to forestall collisions at excessive speeds with out requiring driver intervention.
Chip advances and manufacturing prepared
Luminar additionally famous vital achievements on the chip degree, growing six iterations of purpose-built semiconductor chips for present and future Luminar LiDAR programs for the reason that formation of its Luminar Semiconductor division in Q2 2023.
The corporate’s devoted semiconductor division, comprising Optogration, Freedom Photonics, and Black Forest Engineering, facilitates speedy innovation and customization, essential for deploying intricate security expertise at scale within the automotive trade.
The profitable completion of Run at Charge manufacturing testing in Q3 2023 for Volvo Vehicles’ EX90 in Monterrey, Mexico, additional affirmed Luminar’s readiness for the automobile’s begin of manufacturing this yr. The checks validated the corporate’s potential to fabricate LiDAR sensors at scale, a pivotal step in making ready for automobile integration.
Increasing into trucking
Luminar is placing its LiDAR sensors on prime of vehicles too. It’s collaborating with Kodiak Robotics and Gatik, masking long-haul trucking and middle-mile logistics.
The unique choice of Luminar because the long-range LiDAR supplier for Kodiak Robotics’ Gen 6 autonomous truck, together with agreements with Gatik to standardize expertise throughout their supply truck fleets, underscores the corporate’s rising affect on this sector.
Luminar emphasised its position in bolstering automotive security and automation, notably by collaborations with Nvidia on superior driving platforms. These partnerships purpose to boost security and drive automation in autos resembling Volvo EX90, Polestar 3, Kodiak Robotics, and Plus’ autonomous vehicles, together with a number of Mercedes-Benz manufacturing automobile traces.
The CES exhibition will showcase numerous autos that includes Luminar’s crash avoidance expertise, together with the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Sequence F1 Security Automobile, Polestar 3, Kodiak Robotics’ Gen 6 autonomous truck, Plus’ autonomous truck, and Gatik’s truck outfitted with Luminar LiDAR. Luminar has greater than 50 trade companions.