What Is A LiDAR System?

Light Detection And Ranging (“LiDAR”) sensors are detection and survey systems to estimate the proximity of a target object. LiDAR sensor systems consist of four primary elements: 1.) Lasers 2.) Scanners 3.) Photodetector receivers  4.) GPS navigation systems.

LiDAR systems enable autonomous vehicles (or robots), to observe the world with:

a.) Continuous 360 degrees of visibility;

b.) Hyper-accurate depth information: know the distance to an object with an accuracy of +/- 2 centimeters.

Who Is Luminar Technologies?

Luminar’s LiDAR platform is being used by the Toyota Research Institute (“TRI”) on Lexus vehicles and will be tested across the U.S.  TRI is led by former Google Robotics head James Kuffner. Kuffner likes Luminar’s range (visibility for a couple of hundred meters, including dark objects such as other vehicles’ tires) and resolution.

Which Companies Make Automotive LiDAR Systems?

LiDAR system manufacturers (click table to expand).

• Asset Management
• Automotive
• Insurance
• M&A
• Technology
• Venture Capital