A troubling issue has emerged involving the Volvo EX90’s lidar safety system and Apple iPhone cameras: the lidar sensors used in the vehicle’s advanced driver assistance package are apparently capable of damaging the camera sensors in iPhones that are placed too close to the lidar emitters for extended periods. The discovery, which was reported by users who noticed deteriorating camera performance after regularly using their iPhones while charging in the EX90, raises questions about the interaction between automotive lidar technology and consumer electronics that neither the automotive nor smartphone industries appear to have fully anticipated.
Lidar systems work by emitting rapid pulses of laser light to map the vehicle’s surroundings, and while the power levels involved are generally considered eye-safe for humans, the highly sensitive image sensors in modern smartphones can apparently be damaged by sustained exposure to these pulses at close range. Volvo and Apple are both aware of the issue and are working on solutions, which may include software adjustments, physical shields, or usage guidance for EX90 owners. In the meantime, affected owners are being advised to keep their phones away from the lidar sensor locations when the system is in operation.
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