Next-Gen Volvo Models To Feature Luminar’s LiDAR Technology

Volvo has joined forces with tech firm Luminar in order to integrate the latter’s LiDAR and perception technology into its next-generation cars.

This partnership will deliver Volvo’s first fully self-driving technology for highways, with next-gen SPA 2 architecture models set to become hardware-ready for autonomous drive come 2022, featuring Luminar’s LiDAR sensors seamlessly integrated into their roofs.

Furthermore, SPA 2 cars will get over-the-air software updates, and their Highway Pilot feature (which enables fully autonomous highway driving) will only be activated once the system looks over the individual geographic locations and conditions, giving you a green light.

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“Autonomous drive has the potential to be one of the most lifesaving technologies in history, if introduced responsibly and safely,” said Volvo CTO Henrik Green. “Providing our future cars with the vision they require to make safe decisions is an important step in that direction.”

The two companies are also looking into how LiDAR can improve future driver assistance systems, as well as the potential for equipping all future SPA-2 based cars with a LiDAR sensor as standard.

Luminar’s high performance sensors emit millions of pulses of laser light, helping the LiDAR system detect where objects are by scanning the environment in 3D and creating a temporary real-time map without the need for internet connectivity.

“Soon, your Volvo will be able to drive autonomously on highways when the car determines it is safe to do so,” added Green. “At that point, your Volvo takes responsibility for the driving and you can relax, take your eyes off the road and your hands off the wheel. Over time, updates over the air will expand the areas in which the car can drive itself. For us, a safe introduction of autonomy is a gradual introduction.”

Volvo is also considering increasing its minority stake in Luminar sometime in the future.