METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Waymo to sell lidar sensors to lower cost of self-driving vehicles

The Laser Bear Honeycomb is a perimeter sensor, which Waymo says is the same sensor around the bumper of self-driving vehicles.

March 7, 2019
Waymo to sell lidar sensors to lower cost of self-driving vehicles

The company says that by offering the lidar to partners it will help spur the growth of applications outside of self-driving cars and also propel its business forward.

Waymo

2 min to read


The company says that by offering the lidar to partners it will help spur the growth of applications outside of self-driving cars and also propel its business forward. Waymo

Alphabet Inc.’s self-driving car unit, Waymo, announced that it will sell its Laser Bear Honeycomb 3-D lidar sensors to select partners.

The Laser Bear Honeycomb is a perimeter sensor, which Waymo says in a blog post is the same sensor around the bumper of self-driving vehicles.

Ad Loading...

Features listed by the company include:

  • Wide field of view: Where some 3-D lidar have a vertical field of view (FOV) of just 30 degrees, the Honeycomb has a vertical FOV of 95 degrees, plus a 360-degree horizontal FOV.

  • Multiple returns per pulse: When the Honeycomb sends out a pulse of light, it doesn’t just see the first object the laser beam touches. Instead, it can see up to four different objects in that laser beams’ line of sight (e.g., it can see both the foliage in front of a tree branch and the tree branch itself).

  • Minimum range of zero: The Honeycomb has a minimum range of zero, meaning it can see objects immediately in front of the sensor. This enables key capabilities such as near object detection and avoidance.

The company says that by offering the lidar to partners it will help spur the growth of applications outside of self-driving cars and also propel its business forward. It added that it can ultimately scale its autonomous technology faster, making each sensor more affordable through economies of scale.

More Technology

An ABQ RIDE bus going through a Westmatic wash system.
Technologyby Staff and News ReportsMarch 16, 2026

Biz Briefs: Westmatic in Albuquerque, New Fare Payment Systems, and More

In METRO's latest installment, we take a look at the latest news from suppliers including Alstom, Modeshift, and more.

Read More →
Photo of a traffic signal
TechnologyMarch 16, 2026

AI Bus Lane Enforcement Boosts Safety, Reliability in West Hollywood

Traditionally, bus lane enforcement has relied on manual processes carried out by transit police or parking enforcement officers. While it may be effective in certain municipalities, this approach is resource-intensive and very difficult to sustain.

Read More →
A Coach USA vehicle wrapped for Newark International Airport service.
TechnologyMarch 11, 2026

Scaling Smart: How Fleet Operations Can Cut Downtime and Drive Growth

A phased approach to technology, in-house capabilities, and workforce investment is helping transportation leaders break the reactive cycle and build more resilient, revenue-focused operations.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A Sound Transit Link light rail vehicle in a station
Technologyby Staff and News ReportsMarch 10, 2026

INIT Introduces Open Payments for Seattle’s ORCA Fare System

The landmark event empowers riders across six agencies in the Puget Sound region to tap-and-ride transit using a contactless credit or debit card or a mobile wallet.

Read More →
An MBTA paratransit vehicle.
Technologyby Staff and News ReportsMarch 9, 2026

METRO Opens Submissions for 2026 Innovative Solutions Awards

Now in its latest edition, the awards recognize forward-thinking solutions that improve safety, operational efficiency, sustainability, rider experience, and overall system performance.

Read More →
Cover photo for Biz Briefs dated March 6, 2026
Technologyby Staff and News ReportsMarch 6, 2026

Biz Briefs: Tolar Manufacturing Supports PSTA Spark Service and More

Stay informed with these quick takes on the projects and companies driving progress across the transportation landscape.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Cover Photo for METROspectives with Timothy Menard
TechnologyMarch 5, 2026

How AI and Innovation Are Powering the Future with LYT’s Timothy Menard

Menard discusses how data-driven signal prioritization is improving efficiency, reliability, and ridership, while offering insight into the innovations driving the next generation of smart mobility. Together, they explore how technology and collaboration are paving the way for a more connected, sustainable future in transit.

Read More →
An NJ TRANSIT bus
Technologyby StaffMarch 4, 2026

NJ Transit Pilots AI-Powered Digital Bus Stop Signs

The pilot program showcases two companies’ technology at eight bus stops. The companies submitted their ideas through the Transit Tech Lab, which is backed by the Partnership Fund for New York City and provides an accelerated pathway for early to growth-stage companies to solve public transportation challenges for the largest transit agencies in North America.

Read More →
Cover photo for Biz Briefs
Technologyby Staff and News ReportsFebruary 26, 2026

Biz Briefs: Hitachi Rail in Philadelphia, Keolis in Nantucket, and More

Stay informed with these quick takes on the projects and companies driving progress across the transportation landscape.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
MBTA passengers at rail station
Technologyby StaffFebruary 24, 2026

Boston's MBTA Advancing Major Signal Modernization to Improve Red Line Reliability

To accomplish this work, the MBTA announced that four phases of temporary evening service changes will begin on February 28 and continue through April.

Read More →