Luminar is expanding its LiDAR system beyond autonomous vehicles for the first time. It has announced a partnership with Airbus to bring the laser-guided 3D-mapping tech to helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft with the goal of making flying much safer. Engineers from both companies will work together on two Airbus innovation programs, the UpNext subsidiary and FlightLab. Luminar and Airbus hope to eventually power safe, autonomous flight. "We're able to directly re-apply what we've accomplished for the automotive industry into aviation, an established nearly $1 trillion industry," Luminar founder and CEO Austin Russell said in a statement.