Recently, Volvo Cars announced that it plans to install laser based sensors on all its future models to reduce the number of serious accidents involving its vehicles by one fifth, making it the first auto manufacturer to promote this technology in all its models.
It is reported that Jim Rowan, Volvo's boss, recently said that the EX90, the electric version of the upcoming Volvo flagship XC90 sport utility vehicle (SUV), will be equipped with a laser radar sensor, which can "see the black tires on the black road 120 meters ahead, or pedestrians 250 meters ahead". He added that the use of the system would reduce collisions by 9 per cent and fatal or injury accidents by one fifth.
High end car manufacturers are trying to add some additional features to their cars, which they believe will help them stand out in the highly competitive high-end market. Earlier, competitors such as Mercedes Benz and BMW had announced plans to use lidar sensors on some models.
Although lidar systems are common on self driving cars, few car manufacturers will install them on cars running on ordinary roads, partly because of the high cost. However, the use of safety sensors on road vehicles will become more and more common, especially considering that the European Union has required all vehicles to have the emergency braking function when detecting a parking object in front of them.
Volvo was the first automobile manufacturer to install three-point seat belts in the 1950s. The company has been trying to avoid any fatal accidents on its vehicles.
Its new safety settings will also monitor the drivers in the car, sense whether they are going to sleep, or detect changes in breathing patterns, which may mean that the car needs to stop, which is the progress of the eye tracking system displayed by the company in 2019.
Jim Rowan said that the company had not yet decided whether to license the new technology to other automobile manufacturers. As car manufacturers install more and more anti-collision features on their latest models, the industry is debating which sensor can provide the maximum perception at a reasonable price.
Jim Rowan said that Volvo will also be equipped with a camera and a radar system at the same time, but the installation of lidar can also let the car see more things beyond the dark: "You may see 60 meters with headlights, and our lidar can see 250 meters in the dark, which is especially critical for driving at night."
Lidar can also generate images faster than ordinary radar. Jim Rowan said that Volvo currently chooses to purchase the lidar from Luminar, which is invested by the company, but has formed a team with "hundreds" of developers to develop image processing software internally.
Luminar's technology is based on its lidar sensor, which emits millions of pulses of laser. By scanning the 3D environment, it can create a temporary real-time map. Without Internet connection, it can accurately detect the location of objects. As part of the statement, Volvo Cars and Luminar are deepening cooperation to jointly ensure the robust industrialization and verification of Luminar's lidar technology in series production. In addition, Volvo Cars has also signed an agreement that may increase its minority stake in Luminar.
Source: OFweek
