VW’s Robo-Cars Get a Boost From Luminar’s Lidar

Get perception right—know what’s a kid and what’s a fire hydrant—and the other pieces of the robo-driving puzzle get a whole lot easier. And today, the division of VW tasked with delivering on that 2021 deadline just revealed a key part of its approach.

Audi AID (that’s Autonomous Intelligent Driving) today announced that it is partnering with lidar maker Luminar. AID considered offerings from the dozens of lidar companies, but it was ultimately won over by how far the Luminar lidar sees—about 250 meters—and how good its resolution is.

“The range is pretty amazing on the Luminar sensor,” says Alexandre Haag, AID’s CTO. That’s key for having plenty of time to reach to obstacles up ahead. Resolution is what lets the computer identify that obstacle as another vehicle, pedestrian, or cyclist.