Yandex launches self-developed Lidar sensor to enable safe driving in adverse weather conditions

According to foreign media reports, the autonomous driving company founded by Russian technology giant Yandex NV announced the launch of its self-developed sensor and applied it to its new generation of vehicles to achieve safer driving in adverse driving conditions.

(Image source: Yandex)

The main sensor of the new cars of Yandex Self-Driving Group is a software-defined lidar system with a measurement range of up to 500 meters in cold weather conditions. The sensor, which will be installed on about 70 cars in Russia, the United States and Israel, can not only reflect light from objects, but also compare the results with 3D maps to create a real-time image of the road.

(Image source: Yandex)

Billions of dollars have been invested in the lidar market worldwide, but previously announced self-driving car programs have largely stalled. Alphabet Inc.'s self-driving unit Waymo has stopped selling its lidar to other companies and is considering both internal technology and external suppliers for its next-generation sensors, Reuters reported.

Yandex said its vehicles have previously been equipped with sensors made by Velodyne Lidar and will continue to use them for near-field detection. Ford Motor sold its stake in Velodyne last year and later announced that its Argo AI self-driving startup had independently developed sensors with a range of 400 meters and near-photographic quality.

(Image source: Yandex)

Abuelsamid, lead analyst for electric vehicles at Guidehouse Insights, said: "Many ADS companies have also expressed great concerns about the quality and performance of Velodyne lidar, and several companies have stopped using its products. The rotating sensors produced by Velodyne and Hesai have a fixed scanning pattern, so problems may occur at long distances." Velodyne has not yet responded to this.

Yandex Autonomous Driving Group was founded in 2017 and its self-driving cars have driven more than 10 million miles. The company began testing lidar in 2019 and is currently developing prototypes for roadside sensors and delivery robots that operate on select U.S. college campuses and with the Russian Postal Service.