The Rising Influence of Rising Affluence

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THIS LIDAR IS SO CHEAP IT COULD MAKE SELF-DRIVING A REALITY

https://www.wired.com/story/lidar-cheap-make-self-driving-reality/

The vast majority of self-driving developers, however, consider the laser sensor not vestigial but a crucial element of a safe, capable system. That’s why many of those outfits have developed their own systems (like Waymo) or acquired lidar makers (like Cruise, Aurora, and Argo). It’s also why everyone who hasn’t taken such steps should welcome Luminar’s announcement Thursday that it has developed a production-ready lidar that will cost as little as $500—cheap enough to make it work not just on robotaxis, but on consumer vehicles.

Luminar’s Iris lidar sensor will cost as little as $500, making it a realistic option for helping personally owned vehicles drive themselves.
Palo Alto–based Luminar calls its new, third-generation lidar Iris. The unit is about the size of a soda can and weighs just under 2 pounds, small enough to fit into a car’s bumper. CEO Austin Russell says it’s “automotive grade,” meaning it can survive years of life on the road, with all the potholes and temperature swings. It draws a meager 15 watts of power or so and offers a range of 250 meters, a widely accepted benchmark.