FORGET LIDAR: THIS TECH WILL MAKE AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES AFFORDABLE | TELEDYNE FLIR THERMAL FUSION

EV Channels Review

This video explores Teledyne FLIR's innovative "Thermal Fusion" technology, which combines visible light cameras, radar, and thermal imaging to significantly enhance the capabilities of autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems. The reviewer highlights the system's effectiveness in challenging conditions such as sun glare, fog, rain, and darkness, demonstrating its superiority over traditional visible-light cameras alone. A key takeaway is the potential for this technology to make AEB systems more affordable and reliable, especially as governments move towards mandating such safety features. The reviewer emphasizes that while LiDAR remains expensive, thermal fusion offers a cost-effective solution, estimated to add less than $500 to OEM vehicles. The demonstration in an experimental Lexus RX Hybrid showcased impressive pedestrian and animal detection, even in low-light and adverse weather. The consensus is that combining sensors, particularly thermal with visible light and radar, is a more robust and safer approach to autonomous driving safety than relying on a single sensor type.