LiDAR is an acronym, standing for LIght Detection And Ranging. It operates on a very well tested concept in the industry called time of flight. We know the speed of light through our atmosphere, so that means we can send a pulse of light, bounce it off a target, and measure the amount of time it takes to come back. By halving the total time and multiplying by the speed of light, we now know the distance to the target. This is the core of how LiDAR works.
To capture more data about the surrounding contours, you take the pulse of light and bounce it off a rotating mirror. As the laser rotates around, you get all these measurements in a fan around the LiDAR, which forms a flat plane of measurement. This plane of measurement can be stacked with subsequent planes (like a loaf of sliced bread) to create a three-dimensional map. This is called a point cloud.
Download the LiDAR System Guide to discover:
- The latest 2D LiDAR sensor innovations within the TiM product family
- Innovative HDDM+ technology that enables measurement at long distances
- How to select the correct LiDAR sensor for your application
- Technical product specifications