Lidars like these are often used as a source of reference data, maybe that's what they're doing here.
Yeah it's a lot easier to build maps from lidar data than cameras. Of they're playing around with localization to a map, even using cameras this might be a useful approach.
I bet they are using lidar to collect training data for their vision based depth sensing NN.
FSD Beta V10 - requires the Lidar+FSD circuit board upgrade package for only $10,000.
The lawsuit would be legendary
While the FSD is operating it will also mine Elonbucks for you :).
To be fair this is what I would do if I wanted to get a good wage for working on Tesla Autonomous vehicles - buy a Tesla stick a LiDAR on the roof rack and show Elon what the technology can do.
I'm not seriously saying this is some ambitious startup instead of Tesla, but it would be interesting.
How would they get manufacturer played on the vehicle...?