> Ultimately, camera-only vision systems will likely be the best solution, but until then, integrating LIDAR will get us much further.
Why though? How could it possibly be better than camera plus other sensors?
Why though? How could it possibly be better than camera plus other sensors?
For example, several drivers of Tesla vehicles have been beheaded when a semi-truck turned/crossed in front of them and the car on autopilot evidently identified the white side of the trailer as sky and drove right under it, removing the roof and the occupant's heads. LIDAR would have identified a large flat object at range decreasing at the approximate speed of the vehicle, and presumably the self-driving system would have taken different action.
edit: I think perhaps you didn't quite mean it that way, but it sounded like you were saying "eventually, camera-only will be superior to any other possible system, including camera + other sensors", which just seems nonsensical.
To your point, there are MANY situations where that will never be true, where the extra 3D info will absolutely make a difference.
Going back to the wheel/leg and fixed/flapping wing analogues; legs and flapping wings will likely always be superior for rough terrain and tight spaces. However, legged vehicles will never be as fast as wheels can go on smoother roads, and similarly, flapping wings will never be superior to fixed-wings+power for long haul or heavy air transport.
So, you're right — it's Horses For Courses — different solutions will work best in different situations.