In the world of autonomous driving, Lidar has long been considered a key technology, with its "family barrel" mounted on the roof of vehicles becoming a symbol of advanced self-driving systems. Today, we’re diving into the topic with a car electronics editor to explore how different sensor technologies are shaping the future of driverless cars.
Lidar is undeniably powerful—it offers high precision, a wide detection range, and 360° coverage. It can scan the 3D environment around the vehicle and provide real-time global maps, significantly improving navigation accuracy. Plus, it’s not affected by lighting conditions, making it reliable even in low-light or high-beam situations. With Lidar, it seems like full autonomy is just around the corner.
However, no technology is perfect. Lidar struggles in bad weather—rain, snow, and fog can severely impact its performance. More importantly, it’s expensive. Early mechanical Lidar systems could cost tens of thousands of dollars, and even modern solid-state versions remain costly. Companies like Velodyne and Quanergy are still working to bring down prices. This means that while Lidar is a crucial component, it can’t be the only “eye†for autonomous vehicles.
Enter millimeter-wave radar—a rising star in the field. Tesla, for example, uses it in its Autopilot 2.0 system alongside cameras and ultrasonic sensors. Millimeter-wave radar has been around for decades and is now widely used in features like adaptive cruise control (ACC), blind spot monitoring, and automatic emergency braking. These systems rely on electromagnetic waves rather than mechanical ones, allowing them to detect objects with high accuracy and reliability.
Unlike traditional reversing radars, millimeter-wave radar operates at higher frequencies—between 10 GHz and 200 GHz. The most common bands are 24 GHz and 77 GHz. While 24 GHz is typically used for short-range applications like blind spot monitoring, 77 GHz is preferred for longer-range tasks such as adaptive cruise control due to its better resolution and anti-jamming capabilities.
Compared to Lidar, millimeter-wave radar can detect objects over 200 meters away, making it more suitable for high-speed driving. It also performs well in rain, fog, and smog, and is much more affordable—costing just a few hundred dollars compared to thousands for Lidar. However, it lacks the precision to identify the shape of objects, only detecting their distance, speed, and direction.
Despite its limitations, millimeter-wave radar is continuously evolving. Many companies are now developing 79 GHz radar systems that offer imaging capabilities, improving detection accuracy. While 77 GHz technology is largely controlled by large automotive suppliers, Chinese tech firms are focusing on 79 GHz as a way to catch up and innovate.
Of course, the future of autonomous driving isn’t about choosing one technology over another. The best approach is to combine them: Lidar for high-accuracy object recognition, cameras for visual interpretation, and millimeter-wave radar for reliable, all-weather detection. Each has its strengths, and together they create a more robust and intelligent system.
In summary, while Lidar remains a critical player, millimeter-wave radar is gaining traction as a more cost-effective and versatile alternative. As the industry continues to evolve, the integration of multiple sensor technologies will likely define the next generation of autonomous vehicles. Stay tuned for more updates from our car electronics team.
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