Mexican Media Brands
Waymo to Sell Lidar for Non-Auto Applications
Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo self-driving car unit hopes to lower the cost of its lidar sensors by building a market for them beyond the auto industry.
Share
Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo self-driving car unit hopes to lower the cost of its lidar sensors by building a market for them beyond the auto industry.
Waymo (formerly known as Google Project X) began developing its own lidar systems in 2011. The company uses three variants with short-, medium- and long-range fields of view.
The short-range perimeter sensor has a 360° horizontal field of view and as much as a 95° vertical field. Waymo says the lidar has a minimum range of zero, allowing the device to detect objects immediately in front of it. This makes the sensor well suited for low-speed applications in which near-object detection and avoidance is necessary.
Waymo uses lidar coupled with radar and cameras on its fleet of self-driving Chrysler Pacifica minivans. The Laser Bear sensor is mounted on the vehicle’s bumpers.
Simon Verghese, who heads Waymo’s lidar team, posted a blog about third-party sales HERE.
RELATED CONTENT
-
on lots of electric trucks. . .Grand Highlander. . .atomically analyzing additive. . .geometric designs. . .Dodge Hornet. . .
EVs slowdown. . .Ram’s latest in electricity. . .the Grand Highlander is. . .additive at the atomic level. . .advanced—and retro—designs. . .the Dodge Hornet. . .Rimac in reverse. . .
-
GM Seeks to Avert U.S. Plant Shutdowns Linked to Supplier Bankruptcy
General Motors Co. says it hopes to claim equipment and inventory from a bankrupt interior trim supplier to avoid being forced to idle all 19 of its U.S. assembly plants.
-
Mustang Changes for 2018
On Tuesday Ford unveiled—using the social media channels of actor Dwayne Johnson (this has got to unnerve some of the auto buff book editors)—the 2018 Mustang, which has undergone some modifications: under the hood (the 3.7-liter V6 is giving way to a 2.3-liter EcoBoost four, and a 10-speed automatic is available), on the dash (a 12-inch, all-digital LCD screen is available for the dashboard), at the tires (12 wheel choices), on the chassis (MagneRide damper technology is being offered with the Mustang Performance Package), and on the exterior (three new paint colors). And while on the subject of the exterior, there are some notable changes—a lower, remodeled hood, repositioned hood vents, new upper and lower front grilles, LED front lights, revised LED taillamps, new rear bumper and fascia.
