By Stephen Nellis
Luminar Applied sciences Inc mentioned on Thursday it had struck a take care of the self-driving software program subsidiary of Volvo Vehicles to supply a mix hardware-software system to different automakers.
Palo Alto, California-based Luminar makes a key self-driving sensor known as lidar, which makes use of laser mild to assist vehicles acquire a three-dimensional view of their environment. Volvo plans to make use of Luminar’s sensors in its automobiles with manufacturing beginning subsequent yr.
Luminar mentioned it had struck a take care of Zenseact, the self-driving software program subsidiary of the Swedish automaker created in October after it dissolved a software program three way partnership with Veoneer Inc.
Zenseact makes a self-driving decision-making software program system known as OnePilot that, together with Luminar’s sensors, will energy autonomous options for Volvo’s automobiles.
Below the deal struck on Thursday, Luminar will take Zenseact’s software program and pair it with its personal {hardware} and software program to supply a self-driving system to different automakers, doubtlessly together with Volvo’s opponents, Luminar Chief Exeuctive Officer Austin Russell instructed Reuters.
The Sentinel system will purpose to offer what Luminar calls “proactive security,” an enhanced model of current options like emergency braking by which vehicles may take evasive maneuvers to keep away from accidents.
The system will even purpose to offer full autonomous driving, however solely on highways. It’s going to use a computing chip from Nvidia Corp and in addition use cameras and radar sensors along with Luminar’s lidar unit, however will be made to work with the cameras and radars that many automakers have already included of their automobiles, Russell mentioned.
“It’s a must to have the full-stack answer to really make all of it work,” he mentioned. “You possibly can have 10 completely different OEMs testing your stuff, however it’s by no means going to make it into manufacturing if you do not have the software program facet of it.”
