School me on LIDAR - Why Wait?

[justinkitswa]

I very much understand the technology, and fully agree LIDAR sensors are generally better suited for automotive self-driving applications compared to vision based systems (supplemented with radar)

The thing I struggle to see the point of is why would one wait for it?

Is it expected to be monumentally better than the current systems?

To some extent I understand the concept of future proofing, or potentially resale will be better with LIDAR. But, isn't there always something incrementally better just down the road? Rivian will already be baiting us with LIDAR 2.0 by the time they actually install LIDAR in anything for retail sale. When I need a new iPhone, I buy one - I don't wait six months for the next marginally better one to come out.

Comparing the existing Gen2 driving assist to Tesla, I feel an order of magnitude more confident in Rivian's system already - what will LIDAR gain me over that that makes it worth the wait?

Figured this was worth a group discussion.
(apologies if it's been covered, I did a search and couldn't really find anything on it)

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[Redline]

From what I understand, the use of LiDAR will help Gen2 R2s as well. The L4 abilities is YEARS off. For many reasons. All R2s will get point to point hands free, so for me...its not worth waiting for.

 

[Joe Hoffman]

Short answer: it’s not worth waiting for on YOUR car.

LiDAR data will be collected from all cars with the camera then sent back to Rivian data center and used to improve the mapping model used by all Rivian’s, GEN2+. So everyone benefits.

 

[Redline]

Short answer: it’s not worth waiting for on YOUR car.

LiDAR data will be collected from all cars with the camera then sent back to Rivian data center and used to improve the mapping model used by all Rivian’s, GEN2+. So everyone benefits.

Yup. I think a lot of people are missing that part.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

If greater autonomy capabilities and development ceiling is not critically important to you, and you need to purchase a car sooner, there is no reason to wait.

LiDAR adds another dimension of vision and data for autonomous software and car, allowing both a fuller picture of the world around it. But it requires development, to teach software to understand what it sees, so that it could command hardware correctly. It will take time for the extra data to translate into better real world performance. How long that will take? Who knows. Depends on who they have working on it, how many and how successful they are on this journey.

Could a superior tech emerge to cause Rivian to rethink and redirect (again)? Sure, the possibility is always there and they haven’t said explicitly that they wouldn’t ever. Technology moves fast and that’s just a risk everyone has to expect.

 

[Nixapatfan]

The greater question would be realistically how long are you going to keep your R2 and will you pay the subscription price for autonomy+. If you aren't likely to keep it for more than the warranty period you might as well buy now as Rivian isn't likely going to deliver everything they claim in that time frame.

 

[Hereforthesnacks]

The greater question would be realistically how long are you going to keep your R2 and will you pay the subscription price for autonomy+. If you aren't likely to keep it for more than the warranty period you might as well buy now as Rivian isn't likely going to deliver everything they claim in that time frame.

This is the most helpful answer. If you are only keeping the R2 for 3 years, it’s not a big deal. If you are going to keep it for 5-8 years, I’d wait the few months to have a more capable car down the line.

 

[Zoidz]

Short answer: it’s not worth waiting for on YOUR car.

LiDAR data will be collected from all cars with the camera then sent back to Rivian data center and used to improve the mapping model used by all Rivian’s, GEN2+. So everyone benefits.

 

[ben24]

Do the Lidar improve the vehicle safety systems?

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