In 2022 Volvo will start selling the new 100% electric XC90, its flagship SUV. As curious as the Swedish manufacturer has introduced yet another battery-powered model is the fact that it announced that all future XC90 Recharges will come standard with LiDAR, a device that uses an active laser system to determine distance and distance. identify objects. According to the manufacturer, this LiDAR will enhance the effectiveness of safety and collision avoidance systems.
The decision is doubly welcome, first, because it means Volvo continues to strengthen its battery-powered lineup, which after the launch of the XC40 Recharge is preparing to do the same later this year with the C40 Recharge, the latest version. The XC40, followed by the battery-powered XC90 in 2022. The second reason the Scandinavian manufacturer should be given credit is because it chose to standardize the premium SUV LiDAR, a term derived from the pricey term Light Detection and Range. , a complex and very effective device in the conditions of most companies.
LiDAR emits laser beams at the front of your car, which reflects off all objects, from cars to cyclists, pedestrians and animals, and the device calculates the distance to them, determines their shape and your movement. This laser mapping system has evolved to reduce costs and increase the detection range, reaching 400 meters of superior equipment. However, they usually perform less well in poor conditions such as rain and fog.
If Volvo is the first manufacturer to assemble LiDAR as standard, it has also managed to implement a system that is less cumbersome than a traditional cylinder, slightly larger than a 33L beer can, which is much more difficult to integrate into the system. car roof modern cars. Volvo CEO Hakan Samuelsson recalled that the brand “has always been a leader in safety,” promising to “set a new level of vehicle safety with this decision.” After installing the LiDAR developed by Luminar, the Swedish brand plans to change the software with over-the-air updates to introduce new possibilities and move towards autonomous driving. The Luminar system uses an Nvidia Drive Orin chip to operate.
Volvo has already pledged to use exclusively electric mechanics in 50% of cars sold in 2025, with a view to reaching 100% in 2030. For months, she partnered with Uber’s autonomous driving division, which used multiple LiDARs to transfer data to the car. its a driverless system that should give you some advantages in this regard.
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