Self-driving tech organization Pony.ai, backed by Toyota Motor Corp., said on Monday its next-era technology for robotaxis will be employing lidars designed by Luminar Technologies Inc.
Lidars are laser-based sensors that are a vital component to quite a few autonomous auto technologies and support them understand the natural environment about the cars.
Pony.ai CEO James Peng said the startup selected Luminar’s Iris lidar for its effectiveness but also mainly because it can be built-in into the car far better than traditional lidars.
“It’s truly starting to blur the line in between what you see as a pretty effectively designed passenger auto and the monstrosities that have been on top rated of some of the AV exam vehicles,” said Austin Russell, founder and CEO of Luminar.
Luminar’s Iris lidar is about ten centimeters substantial and Peng said four of them will be mounted on top rated of the car for 360 diploma views. He said Pony.ai is aiming for automotive-quality production of autonomous fleets in 2023 globally.
Pony.ai has Robotaxi expert services in Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing, and Irvine and Fremont in California with a fleet of about 200 autonomous vehicles. Late last year, the startup raised $267 million at a valuation of $five.3 billion.
In addition to Pony.ai, Luminar earlier this year announced a partnership with SAIC Motor Corp., China’s major automaker and a offer with the self-driving application subsidiary of Volvo Cars, owned by China’s Geely Automobile Holdings.
Luminar, established in 2012, is a single of many U.S. lidar brands in the past year to go public by way of reverse mergers with blank-examine corporations.
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