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Comment by BugsJustFindMe | Hacker News Reader

> When folks argue that lidar should not be used

This is a strawman. Nobody argues that it should not be used, only that driving is demonstrably possible without it.

> “Lidar is a fool’s errand,” Elon Musk said. “Anyone relying on lidar is doomed. Doomed! [They are] expensive sensors that are unnecessary. It’s like having a whole bunch of expensive appendices. Like, one appendix is bad, well now you have a whole bunch of them, it’s ridiculous, you’ll see.”

>> Like, one appendix is bad

Except that the appendix is a useful organ. Had it been truly useless it would have evolved away long ago, yet we find dinosaurs had them too. I think Musk is also wrong about lidar. It probably does have a place in this problem even if, like his blind spot re the appendix, Musk doesn't currently understand what that place may be.

"Evolution Of The Human Appendix: A Biological 'Remnant' No More"

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090820175901.h...

At least one purpose of the appendix has been already been found, a long time ago. It serves as an isolated/safe repository for gut bacteria in case an adverse event wipes out the rest of the population.

comma @comma_ai

We are so committed to LIDAR being useless that we're dumping our LIDARs for cheap! Buy them and start your own Self Driving Car company!

https://twitter.com/comma_ai/status/1197323020852793344?lang...

I can find plenty more.

I believe tesla argues this

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