The Polestar 4 doesn’t just look like a car from the future. Its latest announcement proves that it will drive like one too. While we already knew that the electric car would feature the Mobileye Chauffeur system with front-facing radar, it has now been confirmed that the system will also integrate Luminar’s LiDAR technology as well.
LiDAR – or Light Detection and Ranging – is used in a number of autonomous vehicle systems to provide live 3D mapping of the environment, without the need for preinstalled maps. The Luminar system promises a higher laser wavelength, allowing for more detailed mapping to occur. Combined with the other sensors in the Mobileye Chauffeur system this will allow for true hands-off and eyes-off motorway driving.
“Combining our base SuperVision with an independent second redundant perception system – consisting of Luminar LiDAR, radars and an imaging radar – enables true redundancy and a level of accuracy that lays the foundation for fully autonomous driving,” says Prof. Amnon Shashua, CEO of Mobileye.
The system will also allow for hands-free city driving but this will still require the driver to keep their eyes on the road. It’s not clear what the maximum speed of the full level 3 driving will be at this time and it is likely to be more down to the local driving legislation. Mercedes-Benz and BMW both offer eyes-off level 3 capabilities that are slowly being introduced in Europe and the US.
The eyes-on city driving is likely an element of caution too, as if the system can handle motorway speeds, it is more likely to be able to cope with the intricacies of city driving – if not the unpredictability. I suspect this system will also develop and learn over time to expand its capabilities.
-
Scrap long workouts — this 20-minute session helps build muscle and strength all overDon’t want to head to the gym either? You can do this workout from the comfort of your home
-
Google Wallet could get a useful upgrade for organisation in the near futureFinding things in your Google Wallet is going to be even easier soon
-
Christmas car gifts for auto addictsFind the perfect present for those who know their Porsche from their Pagani and their 800 volts from their V8
-
Mercedes’ new all-electric CLA coupe is mountains ahead of the competitionThe upcoming next-generation Mercedes EV is a step-change in efficiency and charging
-
This is my favourite classic car EV conversion yetMazda MX-5 goes electric! But not in the way you’d think…
-
You’ve seen the rebrand, now here’s the first new Jaguar EVThe Type 00 concept previews Jaguar’s all-new electric line-up. We speak to the creatives behind it
-
Audi A6 e-tron: your up-market EV estate has landedThe Audi A6 saloon and Avant estate – plus sportier S6 versions of both – deliver futuristic looks and promise huge range.
-
Here’s your best look yet at the first-ever electric Range RoverThe new Range Rover EV creates a tricky game of spot-the-difference
-
When it comes to EVs, buttons are better than touchscreens – and this car proves itLiving with a Genesis GV60 proves how buttons are best
-
This even sportier Taycan GTS is the Porsche EV we want most of allSportier than ever, the new Porsche Taycan GTS has 700 horsepower and a new soundtrack
