Saw 2 model Ys with (what appears to be) lidar outfitted on them

They have been known to use lidar on their test vehicles for validation testing with their cameras. They are essentially confirming that the cameras can see everything the lidar can see.

This is the correct answer! There is a video on the Tesla channel showing this exact rig.

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Edit: I’m not sure why this is being downvoted, but whatever Tesla is doing on these prototype cars/sensors is not safe (and wouldn’t happen in a production setting) PSA!!!! Be VERY careful taking video of these cars, they WILL fry your phone’s camera. The prototype Luminar LiDAR (the black rectangle located on the sides of the car, below the Ouster spinning LiDAR puck) appears to be misconfigured and has now damaged 2 of my iPhones. I’m not sure if Tesla is overpowering these or there is an issue with Luminar, but they are likely violating FDA regulations and likely unsafe to look at. When the LiDAR scans, it can fire a laser for a single frame and damage the part of the sensor it hits. Happy to share a video/screenshot. It’s honestly annoying and I am surprised it’s not damaging cameras on cars as those normally have less filters.

This is part of Tesla's end-to-end engineering for autonomy. It's called "ground truthing".

Probably cybercab testing.

This makes sense, but I certainly never thought of this happening. Crazy considering more and more cars are being outfitted with lidar.

Normal vehicles with production lidars do not have this issue, for what it’s worth. They have to be FDA compliant before being sold to customers. Edit: Jesus this sub is salty. Why are you downvoting something like this? It’s literally a federal requirement.

Volvo EX90 does

I am aware, and it doesn’t have this issue, since the laser power is turned down and within FDA regulation. I’m not sure what you mean by this.

Ouster lidars are much safer than the Luminar lidars as they emit maybe 1/10000 as much power. The Luminars are 1550 nm and emit a ton of power. An AEye lidar, also 1550 nm, famously damaged someone's Sony mirrorless camera a couple of years ago at CES. I heard a rumor that Luminar also injured someone's eye some years ago when the galvo mirror got stuck.

I see these almost every time I charge up at that specific supercharger

Yeah the Ouster is much better. I’m surprised the Luminars aren’t being reported for damaging more sensors.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19wBFJJN2u/?mibextid=wwXIfr He probably means this.

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This is actually a new accessory for 4999$ that allows to use FSD at night and rain

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Lidar doesn’t work in rain.

I’m more interested in the Flux Capacitor above the license plate.

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Wildly large rig for 2 ousters.

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LiDAR can’t see through anything that even slightly scatters light, meaning no fog, snow, or rain. It’s also prone to glares, meaning no bright sun either.

Solid structure that doesn't flex.

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That’s not true. There’s different mitigation strategies for Lidar in rainy environments

Not exactly, it’s not a 1 to 1. Both deliver very different data. They aren’t equivalent or interchangeable.

Juniper

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There are 5 lidars on that rig total

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There are at least three Luminar. We see one facing rear and one on the drivers side. I’d guess Luminar for long range and the ousters for proximity/curb detection

it can filter some of such "noise" to a point.

I only need it for my right side camera to get FSD to work I hope we don't need to buy the full set....

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checkpoint

They are calculating what LIDAR would be returning.

You use the lidar as ground truth for distance measurements, then you use that data to train the camera based network to be similarly accurate.

Is this what we need to install if we want the windshield wipers to work correctly?

Thank god it's lidar lmao 😂, when I bf rat saw the pic before seeing captions I thought that was a baby rim on the back of the trunk someone put trying to rice the Tesla

I seriously wonder if they saved any money on not putting a cheap rain sensor. All the engineering and testing and it still doesn’t work right til this day.

Also a LiDAR

Explain? I’ve always understood that lidar does not work in rain.

Here‘s from ChatGPT lidar works in rain, but its performance can be affected depending on the intensity of the rain. Lidar systems use laser beams to measure distances, and rain can interfere with these beams in several ways: 1. Signal Attenuation: Rainwater droplets can absorb and scatter the laser light, reducing the strength of the returning signal. 2. Noise from Rain Reflections: Raindrops can reflect the laser beams, creating noise in the lidar data. This might make it harder to distinguish between actual objects and rain droplets. 3. Reduced Range and Accuracy: In heavy rain, the lidar’s effective range and accuracy may decrease due to increased scattering and absorption. Mitigation Strategies Modern lidar systems often include features to minimize the impact of rain, such as: • Advanced Signal Processing: Algorithms can filter out noise caused by raindrops. • Multi-Layer Scanning: Overlapping scans can help distinguish objects from rain. • Higher Power Lasers: Stronger lasers improve signal-to-noise ratios, making it easier to detect objects despite interference. Overall, while lidar works in rain, its effectiveness depends on the system’s design and the intensity of the rainfall.

They’re not comparing raw sensor output lol. Comparing interpretation of reality.

Gotta love it.

Some of the light most likely will pierce through rain (and reflect back) for the triangulation. Ceilometers work with (particularly strong) lidar as well and those beasts can measure several cloud bottoms stacked even above 5km altitudes

My guess is also training AI to produce estimated lidar style data from video.

It’s to calibrate new camera setups and or new cameras. Just engineers validating data on real world streets. This is a good thing! Indicates they are checking what theoretical tells them or should be. Validation is good!

lol this is such bullshit. The word you are thinking about is “camera”, not lidar

I am confused: iPhones now come with 3d depth cameras. “View” only cameras are subject to problems in rain, snow, low light, or against sun light. Why didn’t they left the Lidar tech as a backup? Wouldn’t that allow the car to drive itself even at pitch black night without headlights? What additional cost would a Lidar camera add to the car? Thanks. PS: reading some other comments it appears LiDAR is even more sensitive to the issues I have listed?

Wait until they hear about fog, smoke and snow. ;)

This is somewhat incorrect lidar has better visibility than camera with point of diminishing visibility better when in motion

SLAM?

Using sensors you are going to use, to collect the same data as sensors you’re not going to use, and then seeing where and how the sensors you are going to use agree and disagree with the sensors you’re not going to use, is key to making the sensors you are going to use work the best that they can.

HW6 is going to be money!

In addition, we have road lines, road signs, speed signs etc. Things Lidar cannot see. You can't have an automated driving system without vision, you can however have one without Lidar.

"640k ought to be enough for anybody" (Bill Gates) "Lidar is a crutch" (Elon Musk)

Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads.

“While lidar works well on clear days, it can be unreliable in foggy, rainy, or snowy weather—creating a potential hazard for all road users,” says Will Northrop, professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the project's principal investigator. (source: https://www.cts.umn.edu/news/2023/april/lidar)

No, that suckers electrical but it needs a nuclear reaction to generate the 1.21 gigawatts of electricity

Until they actually switch to Lidar, they just won't be fully safe to FSD. That's my ignorant opinion anyway. All the other companies that work on FSD use Lidar. It's logical and safe. And now it's cheap enough they can do it. I just don't understand why they don't. 🤷🏽

Is there a difference when I just get “camera obstructed” in the same conditions?

Nah that’s a gas nozzle for refueling while driving without needing to stop