Feature: Sensors
LiDAR’s ability to work effectively in all lighting conditions makes it a reliable always-on protection in many applications
Using two image sensors in a stereoscopic arrangement similar
to the human eyes allows for extraction of depth data, but with limitations on accuracy and dependence on ambient light levels. Using LiDAR allows measurement independent of light conditions and removes ambiguity from an image. Te distance of an object is calculated by combining a light pulse aimed toward and reflected from an object with accurate timing measurement.
How LiDAR enables depth sensing in automotive applications
By Joseph Notaro, VP – Worldwide Automotive Strategy and Business Development, ON Semiconductor
L
iDAR stands for light detection and ranging, a means of sensing distance using a laser. It measures the time it takes for a reflection to come back from an object. Different wavelengths can be used depending on the application, but the most common is infrared (IR).
Most of the time, the human brain is good at inferring relative
depth/distance and size of objects, an essential skill, especially when driving a vehicle. However, imaging systems struggle to do this well, especially as standard image sensors present a 3D scene as a 2D image.
26 July/August 2021
www.electronicsworld.co.uk
LiDAR applications There are many applications for LiDAR in the automotive world, especially on semi-autonomous vehicles that operate at SAE Levels L3-L5 – from sensing objects around the vehicle to seeing hundreds of meters ahead. It is also commonly used on delivery robots and in applications requiring autonomous perception. However, the technology is also widely used in outdoor
applications where processable 3D depth maps are rapidly generated with very high accuracy – a process that typically requires days of effort with traditional surveying techniques. For example, LiDAR is used in agriculture for surveying land, to develop maps and to assess crop condition, thereby allowing farmers to model and forecast crop yields and select the best treatments. Levels of grain in silos and liquids stored in tanks can be instantly measured using LiDAR fitted to the top of these structures, without contact with the contents. Environmental organisations assess deforestation, measure
coastal erosion or monitor glacial regression with LiDAR. Furthermore, in these applications, mounting LiDAR on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)/drones helps survey remote, inaccessible areas. Smart factories use LiDAR on automatic guided vehicles
(AGVs), which transport raw materials for processing and moving finished goods to the dispatch area. LiDAR is very powerful when used by robots in smart factories, helping them to perform precision tasks and making them aware when humans are present, adding to their safe and considerate operation. Industry uses LiDAR to quickly survey sizeable construction
projects such as railroads and highways. It can also be used as a safety aid, protecting certain areas from unwanted or unintended incursion. Tis is valuable where hazardous substances are present or where large machines are operating. LiDAR’s ability to work effectively in all lighting conditions makes it a reliable always-on protection in any application.
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