Luminar Launches Sentinel Software for Autonomy

Full stack software development kits will be supplied to automotive manufacturers for autonomous vehicle development

Luminar is launching Sentinel, its full-stack software suite, following five years of developments in Software and AI systems. The Sentinel software enables automotive manufacturers to accelerate the development of advanced safety and autonomous functionality on vehicles, and includes Proactive Safety, Perception, 3D Mapping and Localisation, Simulation, and Dynamic LiDAR features. The first shipments occurred this week, and are planned to be delivered to car makers in the third quarter of this year.

A recent comprehensive research report by Swiss Re, a re-insurance company, demonstrated that cars equipped with Luminar LiDAR and a development version of Sentinel software showed dramatic safety enhancements and a reduction by as much as 40% in accident severity. Luminar’s foremost goal is improving safety; however, Luminar, car manufacturers, and end consumers can capitalise on the insurance savings to be realised with the safety and damage-reduction benefits of its technology.

“People know Luminar for pioneering LiDAR systems for global production vehicles, but since 2017 we have also been building next-generation AI-based software for improved safety and autonomy,” said Austin Russell, Founder and CEO of Luminar. “The majority of major OEMs don’t currently have software for next-generation assisted and autonomous driving systems. Our launch couldn’t be more timely with the new NHTSA mandate for next-generation safety in all US production vehicles by 2029.”

Sentinel was first previewed by Luminar as a prototype in 2021 with a fraction of its current capabilities. The Sentinel software included in the kits is in continuous development, with the intent to be evaluated by automakers and technology companies for potential integration into future advanced safety and autonomous driving programmes. Sentinel is built to be compatible with almost any consumer and commercial vehicle, including both combustion engine and electric drive train models.

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Jonathan Newell

Jonathan Newell is a graduate of Loughborough University and has three decades of experience in engineering as well as broadcast and technical journalism.

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