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by seanhunter 230 days ago
> lidar was always going to be impossibly expensive for a consumer product.

I just don't buy this at all

>"The new iPad Pro adds ... a breakthrough LiDAR Scanner that delivers cutting-edge depth-sensing capabilities, opening up more pro workflows and supporting pro photo and video apps." [1]

Yes of course the specs of LiDAR on a car are higher but if apple are putting it on iPads I just don't buy the theory that an affordable car-spec LiDAR is totally out of the realm of the possible. One of the things istr Elon Musk saying is that one of the reasons they got rid of the LiDAR is the problem of sensor fusion - what do you do when the LiDAR says one thing and the vision says something different.

[1] https://www.apple.com/uk/newsroom/2020/03/apple-unveils-new-...
2 comments
Veedrac 230 days ago
Tesla got rid of radar because of sensor fusion, and particularly for reasons that wouldn't apply to high resolution radar. Sensor fusion with a high resolution source like LiDAR isn't particularly tricky.
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robotresearcher 230 days ago
The iPad lidar has a range of a handful of meters indoors and is not safety critical.

Higher specs can make all the difference. A model rocket engine vs Space Shuttle main engine, for an extreme example. Or a pistol round vs an anti-armor tank round. The cost of the former says nothing at all about the latter.

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seanhunter 230 days ago
OK, how about this? Volvo EX90, a consumer SUV on sale now in the UK. Fitted with Lidar.

https://www.volvocars.com/uk/support/car/ex90/article/47d2c9...

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robotresearcher 230 days ago
They are getting there. But that link has big caveats. Not sure how cool it is to endanger other people’s cameras.

From your linked page:

> Important Use responsibly

The lidar and features that can rely on it are supplements to safe driving practices. They do not reduce or replace the need for the driver to stay attentive and focused on driving safely.

Safe for the eyes

The lidar is not harmful to the eyes.

Lidar light waves can damage external cameras

Do not point a camera directly at the lidar. The lidar, being a laser based system, uses infrared light waves that may cause damage to certain camera devices. This can include smartphones or phones equipped with a camera.

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CamperBob2 230 days ago
How many cameras don't use IR filters? At one time, at least, they were quite common.

I suppose one example might include fixed security cameras with IR-based night vision capability.

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hnburnsy 230 days ago
And that Lidar is not assisting drivers and prevously sold US EX90s now need a computer upgrade to get it to work
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