LiDAR LiDAR

LiDAR for humanity

LiDAR for safety and productivity

LiDAR (light detection and ranging) uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure the range (distance) to a target by timing how long it takes for the light to travel to the target and reflect back to the sensor.

 

LiDAR is enabling technologies that better our lives, in everything from ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems), helping to reduce car accidents, to factory automation, overcoming workforce shortages and increasing productivity, to robo-taxis and trucking and robotic vacuums, improving the quality of everyday life. 

 

ADAS technologies have the potential to prevent 20,841 deaths per year, or 62% of total traffic deaths. i

Application overview: LiDAR

Mechanism of TOF (time-of-flight) LiDAR

LiDAR light-based remote sensing technology is an enabling technology to self-driving cars, but its promise is already improving passenger safety with ADAS safety features such as forward collision prevention, lane keeping assistance, blind spot detection and pedestrian automatic braking. By 2030, it is predicted that 20% of passenger cars sold will include LiDAR, rising to 57% by 2035. ii

 

LiDAR measures distance through time of flight (ToF) or coherent-based (i.e., FMCW) methods, both of which have their place depending on the application. In automotive LiDAR, ToF has been widely available for some time now, and found to be powerful, accurate, and affordable, though more improvements are being made to ensure accurate measurement in heavy rain, snow, and fog. Researchers are also pursuing various coherent LiDAR concepts such as FMCW and others; while these are still emerging methods facing challenges in cost, size and automotive compliance, their benefits such as better signal-to-noise ratio, better ambient light immunity and eye safety, and potentially better range have kept market interest in continued development of such concepts.

Photonics in LiDAR

LiDAR system developers are challenged to produce scalable, cost-effective solutions that operate in extreme temperatures and at a distance of up to 300 meters. ToF LiDAR systems measure distance by calculating the length of time for a light pulse to travel from its light source (laser), be reflected off an object, and return to a photosensor.

 

Hamamatsu provides light sources and photodetectors for short-range, mid-range and long-range ToF LiDAR; laser power and rotational angle monitoring photodetectors for ToF and coherent LiDAR concepts; as well as various components for LiDAR system calibration, manufacturing and testing. 

Beyond the blog: more on automotive

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Automotive

Hamamatsu delivers premium, reliable optical components, including LiDAR solutions, to advance vehicle safety, enhance comfort, and promote eco-friendly technologies. These innovations also support the efficient manufacturing and automation of critical automotive systems.



Contributed by: Jake Li

 

i National Safety Council

ii McKinsey & Company

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