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Caterpillar Inc. CAT has entered into a partnership with Luminar Technologies, Inc. LAZR to integrate its LiDAR technology into the former’s next-generation autonomous solution. This collaboration marks a significant step in the evolution of industrial automation. It will bring Luminar’s cutting-edge technology that will aid in obstacle detection and navigation as well as increase the efficiency of Caterpillar’s autonomous trucks.
CAT & Luminar Tie Up Takes LiDAR Beyond Automotive
LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is a remote sensing method that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser and continuously scans the environment in front of a vehicle. It enables an accurate and high-precision estimate of the shape and size of objects in three-dimensional understanding of the surroundings. It is gaining popularity as a crucial technology for the safe and efficient operation of autonomous machines.
Luminar’s LiDAR technology is the world’s first and only high-performing LiDAR technology to be included as standard on a global production vehicle, such as Volvo’s VLVLY Volvo EX90. Earlier this month, Volvo Cars unveiled the second vehicle in its line-up to feature Luminar technology, the Volvo ES90.
Luminar estimates that if all cars on the road today were integrated with its LiDAR hardware and vehicle software, up to 70% of collisions could be avoided and 90% of fatalities could be reduced.
The Luminar LiDAR technology will currently be introduced with Cat Command for hauling, and initially targeted for quarry and aggregate operations. The Cat off-highway truck will feature two Iris LiDARs with a unique integration system designed exclusively for Caterpillar.
Luminar’s agreement with Caterpillar marks its foray into other markets beyond automotive. It also represents a significant technological expansion from automotive applications to heavy industrial equipment.
Luminar's LiDAR, which was originally designed for passenger vehicles, is being repurposed for much larger industrial machines that operate in harsh quarry and aggregate environments. These present more technical challenges than roads, including dust, vibration and varied terrain. This calls for substantial engineering collaboration between Luminar and Caterpillar to ensure the technology performs per expectations in these challenging settings.
Caterpillar’s Leadership in Autonomous Solutions
Caterpillar has invested in autonomy and automation for more than three decades and is considered an industry leader in autonomy. Its autonomous trucks have covered more than 334 million kilometers across three continents and moved more than 9.3 billion tons of material.