How does the Model 3 estimate depth while parking?

[strangecosmos]

The key strength of lidar is the depth information it provides. Conversely, the key weakness of cameras is their lack of inherent depth information — depth has to be derived from camera images either by a hand-coded algorithm or a neural network.

So, it’s interesting that the Model 3 estimates depth and displays that estimate on-screen when the car is backing up. Do we know which sensors the Model 3 is using? Is it just the ultrasonics?

Has anyone tested the accuracy of the depth estimates? If I had access to a Model 3 right now, I would grab a measuring tape and go do some tests.

 

[compu85]

This is the sonar sensors only. I've not tested their accuracy to the inch, but they seem to be fairly accurate.

 

[strangecosmos]

Anyone know of any good academic papers, talks, etc. about ultrasonics for self-driving cars? Can’t easily find anything on Google Scholar (at least not anything published this century).