Autopilot requires the vehicle to perceive its surroundings, and the green laser pointer technology has made driving safer and more intuitive. According to reports, by 2028, most vehicles will be more powerful than humans, at least for the purpose.
Currently, two types of sensors are mainly used in automobiles: cameras, ultrasonic or radar sensors. Radar sensors are used for short-range (24 GHz in the frequency domain) or long-range (77 GHz in the frequency domain) and are typically installed at the front and rear of the car to monitor traffic conditions and traffic intervals. Although laser radar technology is currently rarely used in production cars due to factors such as cost and availability, the technology has been evolving.
According to Frost & Sullivan, sensor technology innovation is a key strategy for the implementation of global automotive value chain stakeholders.
In the past few decades, sensor technology has evolved from a simple antilock braking system in 1978 to a driver-assisted safety system. The task of the sensor is to acquire physical and environmental data (such as speed, distance), perform fast calculations, analyze the results according to pre-set criteria, and initiate remedial actions (such as emergency braking) when necessary.
Relevant statistics show that 76% of accidents are caused by human error. ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) requires multiple radar green laser pointers to work. RADAR means Radio Detection and Ranging, that is, using radio waves to identify an object and locate an object.
Current radar systems include millimeter-wave radars based on a frequency range of 24 GHz (short-range radar-SRR or medium-range radar) or a frequency domain of 77 GHz (long-range radar-LRR). Short-range radar applications include: blind spot detection and monitoring, lane keeping and lane change assistance, back-end radar for collision alerting or collision avoidance, parking assistance, and traffic jam monitoring. Mid-range and long-range radar applications include: brake assist, emergency braking and automatic distance control. Short-range radar applications are primarily designed to replace ultrasonic sensors to support highly automated driving.
Lidar is still a relatively new technology in the automotive field, but it is now becoming more and more popular. LiDAR is an abbreviation for Light Detection and Ranging, based on laser beams. In addition to the transmitter (laser beam), the lidar system requires a highly sensitive receiver that measures the distance between stationary and moving objects and uses special procedures to provide three-dimensional images.
Currently, the team relies on the green laser pointer for navigation and route planning, ensuring driver safety, monitoring vehicle performance, monitoring vehicle location, recording incidents, and conducting predictive diagnostics. If sensor technology cannot continue to evolve, the next generation of smart mobile travel modes, especially autonomous vehicles, will become impossible.
According to market research firm Yole Development, by 2028, when level 3 autonomous driving (without hand opening) became commonplace, each car would be equipped with an embedded assisted driving sensor valued at $2,500.