A Tesla Semi prototype and a Cybertruck prototype were spotted with a massive new lidar sensor in the front – likely to ground truth data for the Autopilot/self-driving sensor suite on those new vehicles. Lidar stands for Light Detection and Ranging, and it is a method for determining ranges by targeting an object with a laser and measuring the time for the reflected light to return to the receiver. Tesla has taken a different approach and is instead betting on pure computer vision using cameras. CEO Elon Musk has often said that lidar technology has been overblown and has described it as a distraction to achieving full self-driving capability.
But Tesla still uses lidar for its Autopilot and self-driving effort, but it’s not in its sensor suite on its actual vehicles. Instead, Tesla uses lidar sensors on prototypes for the process of ground truthing its own sensors. When rumors of Tesla using lidar came up after those prototypes were spotted, the company commented: “The claim that Tesla may be planning to use LiDAR as part of its self-driving hardware suite is fundamentally untrue. We regularly test our own technologies against other sensors to calibrate our camera, sonar and radar system.”
Now, a Tesla Semi electric truck was spotted driving around Palo Alto with a XenomatiX solid-state lidar, and a Cybertruck prototype was also seen with the same lidar sensor. This indicates that Tesla is testing the cameras and whole sensor suite for the Tesla Semi and Cybertruck.
Are electric car batteries recyclable? Yes, electric car batteries are recyclable. Most electric car batteries are made from lithium-ion cells, which can be recycled and reused in other products. Additionally, some companies are developing ways to repurpose used electric car batteries for energy storage applications.
Can electric car chargers get wet? Generally speaking, electric car chargers should not be exposed to water or other liquids. If your charger does get wet, it is important to unplug it immediately and allow it to dry completely before using it again.
