Mercedes-Benz teams up with Luminar on self-driving tech

The Mercedes-Benz symbol is pictured at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Demonstrate (IAA) in Frankfurt, Germany, September 10, 2019. REUTERS/Ralph Orlowski/File Photograph

San Francisco, Jan 20 (Reuters) – Luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz will lover with self-driving sensor maker Luminar Systems Inc (LAZR.O) to enable completely automatic driving on highways for its upcoming-era autos, Luminar’s founder stated.

Automakers from Tesla to GM and Volvo have set their eyes on introducing autonomous motor vehicles, although regulatory and technological problems continue to be. read through additional

Tech firms such as Alphabet’s Waymo and Cruise also are producing self-driving taxis or vehicles for commercial use this kind of as journey-hailing and shipping and delivery expert services.

Auto autonomy “is really going mainstream with Mercedes,” Luminar CEO Austin Russell instructed Reuters, with no disclosing a timeframe for putting the technology in Mercedes’ autos.

He reported the two would establish “true” autonomy abilities, like improved safety capabilities this sort of as automated braking.

Common Motors Co (GM.N) is performing with its the greater part-owned Cruise self-driving device to introduce a individual autonomous automobile by as early as mid-ten years, Chief Govt Mary Barra explained this thirty day period.

“If you want to be ready to get to really autonomous capabilities in a customer car, and you have to industrialize components, software package, all of these units that occur into engage in. That by the way, is totally unique than the function that the robo-taxi corporations have been doing work on,” Russell claimed.

He said it is a obstacle to mass develop lidars and make confident they are strong ample to fulfill stringent requirements from automakers.

“It is a completely distinctive variety of enterprise of likely from a science and technological innovation enterprise to automotive corporation.”

Lidars, which use laser mild pulses to measure the length amongst the sensor and the focus on item, are widely witnessed as crucial to acquiring comprehensive autonomous driving. But Tesla has shunned the sensor, stating it is expensive and unneeded.

Volvo Automobiles (VOLCARb.ST) and Luminar stated earlier this month that they will put a fingers-absolutely free driving system in an upcoming electric powered sport utility auto.

Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin Enhancing by Kim Coghill

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