https://techcrunch.com/2018/01/04/toyota-research-institute-to-debut-its-3-0-self-driving-research-car-at-ces/ >Toyota Research Institute is accelerating its autonomous vehicle efforts with a new third-generation test platform that it’ll be showing off in person at CES next week. The so-called ‘Platform 3.0’ car uses a Lexus LS 600hL as its base, and goes further than its predecessors in terms of integrating the autonomous sensing and hardware features with the vehicle’s design for a bit more of a consumer-friendly look. >The third-gen test bed also focuses on improved perception tech, including Luminar’s LIDAR array, now incorporated a 360-degree field of view (it was forward-facing only on the second-generation car). There are also now shorter-range LIDAR for areas less than 200 meters out, positioned lower on the vehicle on all four sides, and intended to spot stuff like kids crossing around the vehicle or even smaller debris on the road.