Taking Pics Of Semi-Autonomous Cars And SUVs Might Cost Your Your Smartphone

Volvo’s brand-new, all-electric EX90 was on the receiving end of some unorthodox – and unfair – bad PR this week, as it turns out the pulsed lasers used within its LiDAR safety system could permanently damage the camera on your smartphone. This was recently demonstrated practically by Reddit user Jeguetelli (post embedded at the bottom of this article), who, whilst filming the mounting box for the LiDAR system on Volvo’s seven-seater e-SUV, zoomed in to show the pulse lasers leaving contrails across the screen as the smartphone’s camera sensors shorted out.

It should be noted nice and early that this issue is not specific to Volvo or the EX90, and affects LiDAR systems currently used on the Polestar 3, Mercedes’ S-Class, the BMW i7, and Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz (Honda, Nissan, Toyota, and Lucid Motors, among other manufacturers, are also looking to incorporate LiDAR into their products). Moreover, the Swedish brand has previously made it clear that vehicle owners should not aim cameras directly at the LiDAR system, as the infrared light waves “may cause damage to certain camera devices.”

“Eye-Safe” Pulse Laser Can Still Damage Camera Sensors

The LiDAR system – or Light Detection and Ranging – uses laser light to scan the road and surroundings ahead of the vehicle to which it is mounted. When they meet an obstacle, these lasers “bounce back” to create an artificial ‘map,’ including accurate distances, of potential upcoming obstacles. These then ready the vehicle’s driver assist systems should an evasive maneuver or an emergency stop be required.

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Pulsed laser technology was chosen specifically for this task as it creates a more accurate image without affecting the eyesight of pedestrians or other motorists. Indeed, according to LiDAR News, the human eye is sensitive to light on the visible spectrum (around 400 to 700 nanometers) whilst a LiDAR laser operates at a much higher power, meaning it can also work at longer ranges and regardless of real-world lighting conditions. Consequently, though “eye-safe,” the laser’s higher intensity means it can cause significant damage.

Volvo’s Response

Volvo itself, contacted by The Drive, has strongly suggested that “close-up” shots of the LiDAR can cause damage to a camera’s sensors “or affect its performance,” and while there is less risk with zoomed-out shots, “it’s generally advised to avoid pointing a camera directly at a lidar sensor.”

Indeed, LiDAR News compares zooming a smartphone camera into the system’s pulse lasers with a human eye staring directly into the sun – something else you really shouldn’t do! – and damaging the cornea.

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While not exclusively an issue for Volvo, this experiment comes at a difficult time for the Swedish brand, which recently had to recall 400,000 of its vehicles in the United States over a potential issue with their rearview cameras.

H/T: The Drive