Spy Shots: Autonomous Lexus LS 500h Sightings!

[Daniel Guyton]

It was just in Atlanta with us a little over a week ago. There is an insane amount of engineering and wires in that car/trunk.

 

[Daniel Guyton]

Looks good! I am assuming that Lexus took the lidar transponder and any other sensors off the roof and integrated them into those fairings on the front and rear bumper cover, the front fender and wing mirrors, and behind the windshield?

When it was here in Atlanta it had the sensors on the roof. Not sure why they're not on this one in the picture. Unless it could be a different mule.

 

[Sulu]

When it was here in Atlanta it had the sensors on the roof. Not sure why they're not on this one in the picture. Unless it could be a different mule.

My assumption was that Toyota (and its suppliers) was able to miniaturize and reduce the cost of sensors and especially LiDAR transponders (transmitters and receivers) so that Toyota was able to remove the large transponder(s) from on top of the roof and distribute small transponders around the car to take the place of the large, expensive, central ones.

 

[ThePenguin]

Horrible picture, but I spotted it in Charlotte, NC on 9/25. I tried to get closer but it scurried away.

 

[Tragic Bronson]

It wasn't surprising that the driver wasn't happy getting photographed, because many companies would love to see the data gathered in the vehicles. The driver either works directly for TRI or is a contractor working for a third party staffing company (which I was).

I did work for an autonomous vehicle company and they're very protective of folks taking pictures of the car if they're trying to maintain a low profile. Usually the outside is fine, but we were told to be mindful of the inside because of the data displayed on the laptop that is attached to the vehicle that run the sensors and what not.

 

[Daniel Guyton]

We had a different mule come by on Sept 16, according to the plate(I covered it for reasons). It stayed with us for a few days. Awesome technology.

 

[FastIndy]

Hey guys, I figured I'd join to tell you that I spotted this car driving through Wichita, KS this morning, sporting the roof rack and LIDAR turret.

 

[Will1991]

I'm starting to believe they're different automation levels (with and without LiDAR on roof), according to Automated Toyota (https://automatedtoyota.com/automated-driving-technology-deployment-strategy/) the system without LiDAR was already testes on the GS450h as a "Highway/Urban Teammate":

 

[CRSKTN]

If i had to guess, the ones without insane rigs are the L2 coming sooner than later, the other ones are the full Chauffeur L4+ ones.

Man, if I could get a L2 Lexus in a year or two, with some kind of EV option, that'd be something.

Also as an aside about those toyota shuttles, the news about some new RV self driving concepts has me imagining a much more mundane Mad Max future, but very very convenient.

 

[Will1991]

According to this press release, P4 still has the bump on top:

Toyota to Offer Rides in SAE Level-4 Automated Vehicles on Public Roads in Japan Next Summer | Corporate | Global Newsroom | Toyota Motor Corporation Official Global Website

Toyota Research Institute (TRI) announced today that its <a href="https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/corporate/26057919.html" target="_blank">Platform 4 (P4) automated driving test vehicle</a> will be available for public demonstration rides next summer in Tokyo. Offered from July to September...

global.toyota

Next year Lexus will offer level 4 SAE autonomy experience