After the autonomous vehicle boom of 2016 collapsed under practical challenges, the sensors and radar systems originally designed for self-driving cars have found new life across industries. Companies that once promised robotaxis and autonomous trucks are now deploying their technology to manage shipyards, monitor traffic, and even track elderly residents in their homes.

Ouster, which acquired lidar pioneer Velodyne, now supplies sensors to John Deere for farming and to cities including Chattanooga for traffic management. Ground-penetrating radar originally meant for autonomous vehicles is being tested at the Port of Rotterdam to automate container handling without burying transponders. The technology is also moving into elder care: Pontosense shifted from detecting children in car seats to monitoring older adults at home, tracking breathing and falls without video cameras.

Boston Dynamics has hired former Waymo and Zoox engineers to work on its Atlas humanoid robot, while costs have dropped enough to equip consumer devices like robot lawn mowers with lidar. Despite the sector's struggles—with Luminar declaring bankruptcy last December and GM shutting down Cruise in 2024—veterans like Don Burnette of Kodiak insist autonomous vehicles remain the ultimate goal, albeit one requiring more time than originally anticipated.