The race to dominate autonomous driving is more intense than ever, and where it seemed there was only one possible winner, Tesla, a new contender has appeared: Chinese robot vacuums. And of course, after Tesla bet its entire system on cameras (leaving aside radars and LiDAR sensors), these Chinese robots arrive using precisely that same technology Tesla considers unnecessary. The future of autonomous driving is being decided now, and we’re here to tell you everything that’s happening. Let’s go!
What is the LiDAR system?
LiDAR stands for Light Detection and Ranging, basically, it’s a system that detects and measures light through infrared pulses, which bounce off objects in the environment and calculate distances with millimetric accuracy. Surely you’ve seen hundreds of cleaning robots that don’t bump into anything at all? Well, that’s the LiDAR system.
Why is this system better than cameras?
Because a camera can fail due to glare or in situations where light is not so obvious, but LiDAR, through infrared, maintains high precision and is constant, even in the most difficult driving conditions. So of course, after seeing this, a question arises: how has no one implemented it yet in vehicles aimed at autonomous driving?
The controversy
After a video by Mark Rober went viral opening the debate over which system is better, people began testing their Tesla in extreme conditions. And Tesla made it clear a long time ago that their systems would rely solely and exclusively on cameras, and that the same would apply to the robotaxis they want to lead the streets.
Tesla learning… from a vacuum?
iRobot, the creator of the famous Roomba brand, dominated the market until Chinese vacuums that implemented LiDAR technology began delivering faster and more effective results. In just a few years, the company went into the red while other brands like Roborock skyrocketed. Why? Very simple: they detected obstacles better, mapped the house better, and the work was much more effective. Can you imagine what could happen if this technology were combined with cameras and AI implementation? Well, that has been the present of home cleaning in Asia so far, and at a very attractive price.
What are Roombas?
The trendy vacuum cleaner, a cleaning robot with an automated function that has been designed exclusively to clean household surfaces without human intervention. You simply program it, the robot moves around the house using a mapping system (the LiDAR we talked about), and it leaves your home clean in just a few minutes. 100% recommended if you have pets at home, since you won’t have to keep mopping to clean up the hair. A true convenience in terms of cleaning and within reach of any budget!
The parallel with electric cars
Just like Chinese vacuums are taking over, vehicle manufacturers like Xiaomi are integrating these technologies into their cars, winning over the public with their technology and something even more important: their vehicles cost less than half of Tesla’s, making them much more accessible to society in general.
The end of Tesla’s empire?
While the Chinese sector moves forward by leaps and bounds, Tesla is having more and more issues with “phantom braking” or errors in landscape recognition. Maybe the claim that cameras alone are enough to train AI is starting to crumble, especially when the public is seeing that there’s an alternative that works, simplifies hardware, and reduces costs. Are we witnessing the end of the tycoon’s empire?
A winning combination
Even though Tesla won’t back down because they still believe “all cameras” saves money and is the better option, studies suggest that the most complete system would be made up of a mix of both: LiDAR sensors with artificial intelligence and cameras. The future has turned into a technological blend, and Tesla seems to be choking on this chapter.
Precision and efficiency, maybe we weren’t asking for much more. Who would have thought the future of the automobile would be in the hands of the vacuums in our homes?