Bosch has announced that the development of their LiDAR sensors has finally been completed, so the German engineering and technology expert is ready to begin mass producing them. This is huge news for autonomous vehicles, as the LiDAR is an integral component that pertains to the safety, performance, and general reliability of these cars.
The LiDAR sensor is a laser-deploying device that scans the surroundings and helps generate a 3D representation of what is going on. In autonomous vehicles, the LiDAR is used to detect and avoid obstacles, other vehicles, pedestrians, and anything else that is large and important enough to register on the system. LiDAR data is used in combination with the information that is generated by the other sensors, so everything is pieced together to create a complete, high-res, real-time image of what is going on around the vehicle.
Bosch is happy about its LiDAR systems because it has its own autonomous vehicle aspirations. However, they would also like to cover this neuralgic piece of the market and sell these sensors to many automakers. After all, Bosch has been supplying the world with ABS and ECU units, steering wheel assemblies, electric motors, batteries, and alternators. Thus, they have a long history of supplying critical car components to numerous makers.
While Bosch is of course not the only player in the LiDAR market, its product is very competitive. First, the firm claims that it incorporates artificial intelligence that can measure the movement of the detected objects, enabling the car computer to indulge in very useful predictions. Secondly, it can detect partially obscured or crossing pedestrians and cyclists very quickly. Finally, Bosch makes bold claims about the reliability of its LiDAR sensor, and who can dispute such a proven manufacturer?
Source: Bosch
