LIDAR: autonomy's missioncritical component

Automated-driving capability likely won't happen without Lidar. But what technology-and at what price?

Many autonomous-driving development plans call for deploying a handful of solid-state Lidar sensors on each vehicle, but the Lidar modules used for today's prototype vehicles all are mechanical systems with moving parts. That's prompted huge interest in Lidar, with OEMs and suppliers racing to invest in non-mechanical technologies.

Several small companies have developed solid-state Lidar technologies that aren't ready for automotive applications-and some of those have been gobbled up by major automotive companies in the past 18 months. Ford made a large investment in Velodyne, while ZF bought a 40% stake in Ibeo. Continental acquired Advanced Scientific Concepts. Analog Devices Inc. (ADI) acquired Vescent Photonics Inc.