Luminar Technologies Expands into Aviation with Airbus Partnership

Luminar Technologies is broadening the application of its lidar technology beyond the automotive sector, now venturing into the field of aviation through a collaborative agreement with Airbus. This partnership, revealed on Monday, represents a further expansion of Luminar’s network of collaborations, which already includes prominent companies such as Daimler, Volvo, and Mobileye.

Focus on Technological Advancement, Not Immediate Production

Unlike previous agreements focused on ground-based autonomous vehicles, this collaboration doesn’t immediately translate into lidar integration in commercial aircraft. The partnership centers around Airbus’ UpNext division, dedicated to the development and implementation of cutting-edge aviation technologies.

The initiative will be integrated into Airbus Flightlab, a platform providing access to flight testing resources across Airbus’ diverse business areas – commercial aircraft, helicopters, defense, and space exploration.

Enhancing Flight Safety and Autonomy

Luminar and Airbus will jointly develop and evaluate the potential of lidar to improve sensing, perception, and overall system capabilities, ultimately aiming to facilitate safe and autonomous flight operations, according to a joint statement.

Austin Russell, founder and CEO of Luminar, stated that the company is able to leverage its automotive advancements directly into the aviation industry, a market valued at approximately $1 trillion. He envisions automation and safety enhancements revolutionizing transportation across all modes, transitioning their technology from roadways to the skies.

The Importance of Lidar Technology

Lidar, which utilizes laser light to measure distances and create precise 3D maps, is widely considered essential for the successful deployment of autonomous vehicles. Automakers are also increasingly recognizing lidar as a crucial sensor for enhancing the safety and functionality of advanced driver-assistance systems in consumer vehicles.

Applications in Aircraft and Helicopters

Airbus is exploring how Luminar’s lidar and perception technology can be utilized for automatic obstacle detection, a vital component for the autonomous operation of aircraft, particularly in urban air mobility scenarios. The sensor technology also holds promise for significantly improving the safety of current aircraft applications.

A key focus is enhancing helicopter safety, with Airbus introducing new features to its helicopter Flightlab through a project called Vertex. This includes integrating lidar alongside other sensors, advanced fly-by-wire systems, and innovative cockpit displays to reduce pilot workload and bolster safety.

Vertex Project and Future Integration

The Vertex system aims to automate tasks such as navigation, route planning, automatic take-off and landing, and adherence to pre-defined flight paths. Initial integration of these technologies onto the helicopter Flightlab is underway, with a full demonstration scheduled for 2023. Airbus’ Urban Air Mobility project will also benefit from this technology as a step towards achieving autonomous flight.

Luminar’s Growth and Previous Partnerships

Luminar transitioned from a secretive operation to a publicly traded company in late 2020, gaining prominence in the autonomous vehicle sector in 2017. In February, the company announced a collaboration with Volvo Cars to jointly develop and market an automated driving system for highways to other automotive manufacturers.

This partnership, involving Luminar and Volvo’s software subsidiary Zenseact, builds upon an existing relationship and aims to create a comprehensive autonomous vehicle system for production vehicles, with Volvo as the initial customer.

Supplier Agreement with Mobileye

Prior to its public offering, Luminar secured a supply agreement with Intel’s Mobileye to provide lidar for its fleet of autonomous vehicles. Under this agreement, Luminar’s lidar will be integrated into Mobileye’s first-generation driverless vehicles, currently undergoing testing in Dubai, Tel Aviv, Paris, China, and Daegu City, South Korea.