April 23 (Reuters) - Luminar Technologies ( LAZR )

launched its latest lidar sensor on Tuesday and said it has

partnered with auto software maker Applied Intuition to aid

automakers in testing their assisted-driving systems.

The tie-up will provide solutions for automobile

manufacturers to test their assisted driving systems using

Applied Intuition's sensor simulator integrated with Luminar's ( LAZR )

lidar sensor models.

Lidar sensor helps self-driving cars and driver-assistance

systems gain a three-dimensional map of the road, and is

considered a key to achieving full autonomy in vehicles.

Luminar's ( LAZR ) latest lidar sensor, Halo, is smaller than

previous generation sensors and will blend into the roofline of

a car or behind the windshield, the company said.

"Automakers will be able to accurately test and validate

Luminar's ( LAZR ) LiDAR-based software systems in virtual environments

while reducing testing cost and accelerating time to market,"

Luminar ( LAZR ) said.

The company also said it has started shipping its lidar

sensors to Volvo Cars ahead of the production of

the EX90, which is expected to be the first global consumer

vehicle to standardize this technology.

In late February, Luminar ( LAZR ) cited a delayed production

schedule for Volvo's new EX90 electric SUVs for its downbeat

fourth-quarter results.

Volvo is targeting customer deliveries of the EX90 in late

2024.