That's why loads of the DARPA Grand Challenge vehicles were plastered in SICK LIDARs [1] back when Velodyne only had one prototype, and it was on a truck they were putting in the competition themselves [2].

Course, Velodyne's product may be 10x the cost, but it has 64x the number of lasers, and good range and direct sunlight performance, so it's understandable that it took off.

[1] https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-sep-28-2005-fontana-ca-usa... [2] https://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2005-10/popscis-darpa...