LiDAR for Automotive and Mobility Applications
Vehicles of all types use LiDAR to determine which obstacles are nearby and how far away they are. The 3D maps provided by LiDAR components not only to detect and position objects but also identify what they are. Insights uncovered by LiDAR also help a vehicle’s computer system to predict how objects will behave, and adjust the vehicle’s driving accordingly.
Semi- and fully-autonomous vehicles use a combination of sensor technologies. This sensor suite includes Radar, which provides constant distance and velocity measurements as well as superior all-weather performance, but lacks in resolution, and struggles with the mapping of finer details at longer ranges. Camera vision, also commonly used in automotive and mobility applications, provides high-resolution information in 2D. However, there is a strong dependency on powerful Artificial Intelligence and corresponding software to translate captured data into 3D interpretations. Environmental and lighting conditions may significantly impact camera vision technology.
LiDAR, in contrast, offers precise 3D measurement data over short to long ranges, even in challenging weather and lighting conditions. This technology can be combined with other sensory data to provide a more reliable representation of both static and moving objects in the vehicle’s environment.
Hence, LiDAR technology has become a highly accessible solution to enable obstacle detection, avoidance, and safe navigation through various environments in a variety of vehicles. Today, LiDARs are used in many critical automotive and mobility applications, including Advanced Driver Assistance Systems and Autonomous driving.