Summary
- Li Auto CEO believes Elon Musk would consider using Lidar if he drove in China at night
- Lidar makes autonomous driving systems safer in China, with a detection range of 200 meters
- Chinese automakers pursuing autonomous driving use Lidar for optimal safety
- Elon Musk maintains Tesla’s ability to achieve fully autonomous driving with Tesla Vision, using only cameras and AI
- Musk views Lidar as unnecessary for autonomous driving, equating it to a "crutch" for companies relying on the sensor
Article
Li Auto CEO Li Xiang believes that Elon Musk would probably be more open to using Lidar for self-driving vehicles if he drove around China’s highways at night. According to Li, Lidar makes autonomous driving systems safer in China and his company uses it for optimal safety. He noted that cameras can only see 100 meters away, while Lidar has a detection range of 200 meters. Many Chinese automakers pursuing autonomous driving also use Lidar, citing the importance of safety for family-oriented vehicles.
Elon Musk, on the other hand, maintains that Tesla will achieve fully autonomous driving with Tesla Vision, which uses only cameras and artificial intelligence. Tesla Vision has been working well so far, with positive reviews from Tesla drivers for the Full Self-Driving (Supervised) V13 system. Musk has criticized Lidar, calling it a “crutch” and predicting that companies relying on the sensor for autonomous driving will be proven wrong in the long run. While he uses Lidar for SpaceX’s Dragon capsule, he does not believe it is necessary for autonomous driving.
Li Auto CEO’s comments highlight the differences in approach between Chinese automakers and Tesla when it comes to autonomous driving technology. Chinese automakers prioritize safety and use Lidar for its extended detection range, especially for driving conditions in China that may pose challenges such as broken taillights on large trucks at night. Musk, on the other hand, is confident in Tesla Vision’s capabilities and views Lidar as unnecessary for achieving full autonomy. The contrast in perspectives reflects the diverse strategies and technologies being developed in the autonomous driving industry.
The use of Lidar in autonomous driving technology remains a topic of debate, with different companies and regions adopting varied approaches. While Chinese automakers like Li Auto prioritize Lidar for safety reasons, Elon Musk and Tesla rely on cameras and artificial intelligence to achieve fully autonomous driving. Musk’s criticism of Lidar as a “crutch” reflects his belief in Tesla Vision’s capabilities and his prediction that companies using Lidar will ultimately be proven wrong. The contrasting viewpoints between Chinese automakers and Tesla add complexity to the ongoing development of autonomous driving systems.
Li Auto CEO’s assertion that Elon Musk would likely use Lidar in China if he experienced driving there at night underscores the potential benefits of the sensor in challenging driving conditions. The extended detection range and enhanced safety features of Lidar could prove valuable in environments like China’s highways, where visibility may be limited and obstacles like broken taillights are common. While Musk has made his stance against Lidar clear, the comments from Li Xiang suggest that different regions may require different technologies for successful autonomous driving implementation.
Overall, the debate between using Lidar and camera-based systems for autonomous driving reflects the diverse approaches and considerations in developing this technology. While Chinese automakers prioritize safety and utilize Lidar for its extended range and enhanced detection capabilities, Musk and Tesla remain confident in the capabilities of Tesla Vision without the need for Lidar. The contrasting perspectives highlight the complexity of developing autonomous driving systems that can navigate a variety of driving conditions and environments effectively. Ultimately, the ongoing advancements in technology and the insights from industry leaders like Elon Musk and Li Auto CEO Li Xiang will continue to shape the future of autonomous driving.
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