
The most expensive truck tracking devices in the world
The most pricey truck tracking systems in the universe could cost up to $100,000.
The latest high-end, semi-autonomous vehicle tracking device from the company LIDAR is the most expensive.
LIDAR’s flagship system, the $200,000 LIDAGear, has an array of sensors, which is the first time such high-tech equipment has been used for real-world driving.
The new LIDABear uses a laser-based scanner to capture the position of every vehicle in a parking lot and compare it to GPS data to identify drivers.
At this price, LIDASoft, the company that makes the LIDA, says it is a big deal.
“We were surprised at how affordable it was and how many of these sensors we can get,” says Scott Matson, senior vice president of LIDAProducts at LIDARSoft.
We’ve got these kinds of systems that cost about $20,000 or $25,000 and then they’re a whole different ball game when it comes to tracking them,” he adds.”
You’re going to see a lot more systems that can capture that kind of data, because you can use those sensors in real-time to improve safety.
“There are lots of sensors that can be used to help in other ways,” Matson says.
There are other, more expensive trucking systems that have been tested on a larger scale, but they are not yet able to capture everything, he says.
In the past, it would have been more expensive to buy a fully autonomous system.
“It’s definitely an interesting opportunity, but I think it’s a little premature,” Mody says.
“We’re trying to get the best of both worlds, where we’re going after these sensors that we can buy, and the data that we get from them.”LIDABears cost more than $200K each and were originally intended for small commercial trucking operations.
“In terms of technology, it’s pretty interesting, it works,” says Mody.
“It’s not really a technology-first, it goes to the edge of what’s possible.”
The company hopes to commercialize its system in the coming years.
In the meantime, Lidabears have been deployed in cities across the U.S. and Canada to help local law enforcement agencies identify drivers and criminals.
“Our truckers are the most targeted people, they’re the ones that get killed or get shot in the back of the head,” says Lidarese.