The future is all electric, according to General Motors, and eventually, it will be self-driving. Today, GM announced its latest technology acquisition: Strobe Inc, a LIDAR developer.
With the acquisition, Strobe becomes a part of GM Cruise Automation and will work with Cruise to develop a next-generation LIDAR system.
LIDAR works by creating high-resolution images with light to enhance a self-driving car’s vision, so to speak. It’s far more accurate than cameras or radar alone, though, its packaging remains bulky and far from “sexy.”
julie Schoenfeld, founder and CEO of Strobe, reiterated future LIDAR advancements will help bring self-driving cars to market much quicker than many may anticipate.
“The successful deployment of self-driving vehicles will be highly dependent on the availability of LIDAR sensors,” she said. “Strobe’s deep engineering talent and technology backed by numerous patents will play a significant role in helping GM and Cruise bring these vehicles to market sooner than many think.”
GM’s acquisition of Strobe follows GM Cruise’s reveal of the first self-driving car with redundancy and safety requirements necessary to operate without a driver. The latest-generation self-driving car will join Cruise’s test fleet of vehicles in California, Arizona and Michigan.
Comment
GM and others aren’t salivating over self-driving cars to make cars easier to drive. They desperately want this to become the next Uber and fire as many truckers as possible. At which point —
— we really ought to start reconsidering an economy that aims to eliminate all jobs.