Mobile Technology No mobile automatic


systems without LIDAR Radar using light for autonomous aerial vehicles, machinery and vehicles Photodiodes are key components for the automation of


mobile systems. Applications encompass everything from drones, through cleaning robots and logistics robots, to special vehicles for industry, construction, forestry and agriculture. Berlin-based First Sensor AG created avalanche photodiodes, which enable the success of LIDAR, radar using light. Only LIDAR systems create the necessary conditions for comprehensive automation in conjunction with safe mobility


L


IDAR stands for ‘light detection and ranging.’ Where radar uses radio waves, LIDAR uses laser beams for measuring distances and monitoring the surroundings by generating three dimensional images. The laser light reflected from the surface of an object is received by photodiodes, providing information about the object's speed and position. The more precisely the reception signal is detected and processed, the better the quality of the sensors and the more reliably even small and dark objects with minimal reflectivity can be detected.


High-precision measurements in nanoseconds To measure the light pulses emitted in the nanosecond range, First Sensor offers highly sensitive avalanche photodiodes (APDs) in different series for the visible and infrared spectrum ranges. APDs are manufactured with internal amplification, a wide dynamic range and wide bandwidths. To achieve the high spatial resolutions required in LIDAR systems, First Sensor develops APD arrays comprising multiple light-sensitive elements on a chip.


Finely honed senses for industrial drones


As optical systems, LIDAR or LADAR systems (light/laser detection and ranging) have a major impact on the deployment possibilities for commercial drones. As replacements for the radar systems used in large aerial systems, they can measure distance, speed and certain atmospheric parameters. Avalanche photodiodes (APDs) are key components of these systems. Special customisation is often required for integrating these components in the systems – and the APD supplier should have experience in the aviation industry. Unmanned aerial vehicles are becoming


increasingly common. Between military intelligence, combat drones and the booming market for multicopters for hobbyist use lies a broad range of commercial applications. One of the key


16 February 2019


factors for the quality and potential applications of these drones is the sensor technology. Only highly powerful sensors can give commercial drones the flight characteristics they need. Other sensors determine the potential applications of the aerial vehicles. From police manhunts, traffic monitoring or missing persons searches through to reconnaissance flights for emergency services, the recording of geoinformation or inspection of buildings and technical installations – different tasks require the optimum combination of different sensors.


Suppliers of systems for these complex tasks have to be every bit as expert in modifying their products as they are in manufacturing them to industrial quality standards. They also have to reliably deliver small and medium quantities at reasonable prices over a long period.


LIDAR deployed in ever more applications


The following examples demonstrate the current breadth of potential applications of LIDAR systems above and beyond aerial vehicles: Autonomous vehicles such as electric forklifts, low and high lift trucks and tractors achieve maximum efficiency in their intralogistics tasks. Even more stringent are the requirements for the projects launched by Starship Technologies, which was founded in Tallinn, Estonia, in 2014. The company combines mobile technology with specially designed robots and local supply centers in order to make local supply and parcel delivery processes faster, smarter and more cost-efficient. To increase efficiency in agricultural


processes, New Holland – working in collaboration with the world's biggest winery, the California-based E. & J. Gallo Winery – introduced the first autonomous wine tractor. Early this year, CNH Industrials – the parent company of New Holland – presented the concept of autonomous tractors. Once in the field, the software can guide the tractor along the most efficient route, taking into account the size


Components in Electronics


Sensor technology is one of the key factors for the quality and potential applications of drones. (Source: © agnormark/Fotolia)


and shape of the field and the size of the attachments used. When the inbuilt light radar detects an obstacle on the field, the farmer is notified by an app and can decide how the tractor is to respond.


Guaranteed growth Drones are an attractive growth market. According to Drohnen-Journal.de, the market research firm Gartner predicts that the market will grow from the current level of around 6 billion USD to around 11.2 billion USD by 2020. The market researchers expect to see significant growth in particular for industrial inspection applications (oil, gas, energy, infrastructure, traffic). By 2020, these applications are expected to account for around 30 percent of the commercial drone market. In contrast, while delivery drones regularly make the news, they will remain merely a niche application – the market researchers expect that their market share will be less than one percent by 2020.


The Boston-based consulting firm, Bain & Company, has calculated that the global market for automated vehicles and driver assistance systems will reach a volume of between $22 billion and $26 billion by 2025 with annual growth rates of 12 to 14 per cent.


Sensor solutions from a single source


First Sensor has been developing and manufacturing high-precision optical sensors since 1991. Its product range includes detectors, modules and customer- specific solutions. The process chain encompasses product design and manufacture and includes all the most important key components: component development and manufacture, mounting and connection technology, optoelectronic


hybrid integration and complete system development. Specialised mounting technology allows the sensors to be deployed even in hot environments or environments exposed to high levels of temperature, vibration, dirt or humidity. Thanks to its own semiconductor production facility offering 1,200 m² of clean room space and extensive development capacities, the sensor manufacturer can modify its silicon avalanche photodiodes in line with specialized, customer-specific requirements in terms of sensitivity, amplification, rise time or structure. By manufacturing all central components ourselves, we ensure the long-term availability of our products. Specially customised photodiode arrays can be designed and optimised for specific applications. In the future, the APD array, evaluation electronics and optics will be integrated in an extremely small space in a single OEM component. We also offer development modules for APD arrays. These are ideal for test runs in Research and Development as well as for integration in OEM LIDAR systems. Their high-precision amplification ensures outstanding APD signal quality. In the past, innovation processes in the


microelectronics sector tended to be application-neutral. Nowadays, however, First Sensor designs components and modules in accordance with specialised application requirements right from the outset. One key advantage of this approach is that the entire process – from development to series application – is much faster and less costly. Thanks to our many years of experience with a range of highly stringent industry and automotive standards, we develop products of exceptional quality and reliability.


www.first-sensor.com www.cieonline.co.uk


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