lidar

American multinational automaker, Ford Motor Company is using LiDAR sensors for its Fusion Hybrid autonomous research vehicle to enable it to see in the dark.

This technology has been deployed on a pilot car to ensure that autonomous cars can move and operate safely in the dark.

The LiDAR sensors allow the driverless car to drive without its headlights on.

The research is an important development for the autonomous vehicle industry as it reveals that the LiDAR sensors, working with the car’s virtual driver software, enable it to operate safely even when the camera, which is used to see the environment, lacks the required light.

The company’s driverless cars can work on three types of sensors that include radar, cameras and LiDAR in order to identify obstacles and road lines, as well as to keep track of its position.

However, only the LiDAR sensors can function independently on roads without stoplights.

Ford technical leader for autonomous vehicles Jim McBride said: "Thanks to LiDAR, the test cars aren’t reliant on the sun shining, nor cameras detecting painted white lines on the asphalt.

"In fact, LiDAR allows autonomous cars to drive just as well in the dark as they do in the light of day."

Ford’s self-driving cars feature high-resolution 3D maps that provide information on the road, geography, topography, road markings, as well as landmarks such as buildings, signs and trees.

The LiDAR sensors installed in car can generate approximately 2.8 million laser pulses every second.

These pulses are capable of pointing the exact location of the autonomous car on the maps.

"Thanks to LiDAR, the test cars aren’t reliant on the sun shining, nor cameras detecting painted white lines on the asphalt."

Researchers monitored the pilot Fusion Hybrid autonomous car from inside, as well as outside using night vision goggles, which enabled them to see the infrared laser beams produced by the LiDAR sensors.

The automaker conducted the test at Ford Arizona Proving Ground in Arizona, the US.

In 2016, Ford intends to triple its autonomous car test fleet with the number reaching 30 autonomous Fusion Hybrid sedans.

The tests will be conducted on roads of Arizona, California and Michigan.

Image: An autonomous car using LiDAR sensors. Photo: courtesy of Ford.