Rivian Will Add Lidar in 2026, Says Tesla's Cameras Aren't Enough
3 days ago
- #Autonomous Driving
- #Rivian
- #LiDAR
- Rivian announced its in-house developed silicon chip, Rivian Autonomy Processor (RAP1), replacing Nvidia-sourced chips.
- Rivian is adopting LiDAR hardware, starting with the R2 model by end of 2026, challenging Tesla's camera-only approach.
- Rivian's Universal Hands-Free (UHF) driver-assist system will be enhanced with LiDAR for better spatial data and detection.
- LiDAR improves visibility at night and in adverse conditions, unlike cameras which are passive light sensors.
- Experts argue multiple sensing modes (cameras, LiDAR, radar) are essential for robust and safe autonomous driving.
- Rivian plans to use LiDAR data to improve onboard models for all second-gen R1 and later vehicles, even those without LiDAR.
- LiDAR-equipped vehicles will feature augmented reality visualizations and exclusive autonomy features in the future.
- Rivian's new hardware (LiDAR, ACM3, RAP1) is undergoing validation, with shipping expected on R2 by end of 2026.