Do we need LiDAR?

The recent video from Mark Rober comparing a Tesla on Autopilot and a LiDAR equipped Luminar vehicle has led to a lot of comments online about Tesla's camera only system being unsafe, or alternatively shouts of "fake news" from Tesla fans. So today we're going to dig deep into camera based semi-autonomous systems, look at what Rober's video did -- and didn't -- test. And whether LiDAR is a requirement for fully autonomous driving systems. The Mark Rober Video - Can you fool a self-driving car - is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQJL3htsDyQ Transport Evolved would like to extend thanks to the multiple autonomous driving engineers and programmers we've talked to both over the years and specifically for this video. You all helped make this coverage possible. ----- 00:00 - Introduction 03:41 - The background to TE's self-driving coverage 06:00 - The Mark Rober video 07:09 - What "Can you fool a self-driving car" is -- and isn't about 09:48 - Could a non-camera based traditional ADAS system have done better? 11:05 - Is LIDAR required? A quick history of semi-autonomous systems 15:32 - What changed to make camera only systems feasible? 18:27 - Why might you want other sensors? 24:52 - Infrastructure issues also make camera only tricky 26:17 - Some things are small 27:39 - Other sensor options - Radars 30:00 - Other sensor options - Ultrasonics 31:00 - Other sensor options - LiDAR sensors 33:13 - Some LiDAR issues 34:34 - Conclusions 36:28 - Thanks and Credits ----- Script: Kate Walton-Elliott, Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield Presenter: Kate Walton-Elliott Editor, Colorist: Kate Walton-Elliott Art and Animation: Erin Carlie Producer: Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield Music supplied through Artlist.io © Transport Evolved LLC, 2025 ----- Links: PLEASE help support the channel (if you are going to use Amazon) by using our Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/40xOyjm As amazon affiliates, we will earn money from qualifying purchases made using this code. ----- Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC675NhQ4EU5TzwCMwYp5XCw/join This video was made possible thanks to the kind donations of our supporters on Patreon and Ko-fi. Join them in supporting us. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/transportevolved Buy the team a coffee -- or a meal! https://ko-fi.com/transportevolved Donate using bitcoin: BC1QRZRGCCXUKPDZ2DZ9KX9JYJXMZDYHYGFZ0MN4WH Support us by buying some merch at https://www.redbubble.com/people/TransportEVd/shop Follow our 'second' channel - Transport Evolved Take Two, at https://www.youtube.com/transportevolvedtake2 Join our Discord server at https://discord.gg/U3tnkGNfCA Follow the show on Mastodon: https://mastodon.transportevolved.com/ Follow the show on PeerTube: transport_evolved_main@peertube.tv Use the TE Aptera referral code - i.refs.cc/zz56EbIi - but watch our explainer video FIRST: https://youtu.be/mwzwEssgqNI Sign up for EnergySage at https://www.kqzyfj.com/click-101290941-16952262