The evolution of automotive lighting is converging with the needs of autonomy. Solid-state LiDAR systems, crucial for the perception systems of self-driving cars and robots, are increasingly being integrated into vehicle lighting signatures—headlamps, tail lamps, and side markers. This allows for a seamless, aesthetically clean design without bulky rooftop sensors. These lighting-integrated LiDAR modules use laser diodes to scan the environment, providing high-resolution 3D mapping. The same core technology is also being adapted for use in autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) within factories and warehouses, where they require precise navigation. This fusion turns the vehicle or robot’s lighting clusters into both a signaling device and a critical sensory organ, blurring the line between illumination and machine vision.
