LiDAR stands for Light Detection and Ranging. Lidar laser devices accurately measure distances to a target(s) and its speed by illuminating this target with a laser beam and then processing information from the reflected light. These reflection measurements can be used for many applications such as scanning objects, measuring speed, mapping large expanses of terrain, as well as providing data on a car’s surroundings for autonomous navigation (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), and much more.
Repeating this process millions of times per second creates a precise, real-time 3D map of the environment. Lidar sensors are a key component in autonomous vehicles, providing a high-resolution 3D view of their surroundings. Lidar enables autonomous vehicles to “see” by generating and measuring millions of data points in real time, creating a precise map of its ever-changing surroundings for safe navigation.