AUTONOMOUS CONTROL


and radar detection. Its typically narrow elevation angle when scanning has rendered it a predominantly 2D technology. Now, a new scanningmechanismdeveloped by


3DLiDAR gives robots a sense of space M


anufacturers of robots and autonomous vehicles have to date been hampered by the disadvantages of LiDAR (light detection and ranging), the sensing technology that combines laser ranging


Panasonic has added a third dimension to the ubiquitous sensing technology. The company has created a workable 3D LiDAR sensor, which it says will be available as samples as early as the first quarter of 2018.


THE 2D CONUNDRUM According to Panasonic, existing LiDAR products used in advanced driver assist systems (ADAS) or autonomous vehicles suffer fromthe problemof having a vertical scanning angle that is fixed and too narrow. To cater for this constraint, the positioning of the sensor is optimised for the function that it has to perform. An example of this is adaptive cruise control


(ACC), where the LiDAR detects vehicles in its path, measures the distance and provides data to the control systemso that speed can be adjusted in order tomaintain a safe gap. In this application, a wide angle is necessary to detect any kind of vehicle fromnarrowmotorcycles to large commercial vehicles in any position within the driving lane. Range is also important but depth of scanning angle is less so. To scan for other features, such as road surface


texture, pot-holes or overhead obstructions such as gantries or bridge parapets, other sensors are needed in order to paint a complete picture of the vehicle’s 3D surroundings. Despite the narrow vertical range, autonomous


vehicle LiDAR scanners have the advantage of high-speed scanning with high accuracy in ranging. When objectsmovemore slowly, using a single


46 /// Environmental Engineering /// December 2017


The development of 3D LiDAR sensors with wide scanning angles provides autonomous guided vehicles with improved object detection


scanner and altering the vertical scanning angle brings a new dimension to the possibilities of LiDAR


SCANNING THE VERTICAL According to Panasonic, its new 3D LiDAR sensor measures the distance between the sensor and the target object using the round-trip travelling time of the pulsed laser beamthat is projected onto the target, enabling it to accuratelymeasure the direction of and distance to the target with a wide angle of view. It achieves this using proprietary multiplemotor-drivenmirrors and scanning technology. Themotorisedmirror systemprovides the


capability of scanning the laser over a 270° horizontal plane with a variable vertical angle of up to 60°. This is a defining capability in the autonomous guidance of robots and slow-moving vehicles used in agriculture and warehousing. The variable depth scanning angle of the newly


developed 3D LiDAR helps in the precise detection of objects on the ground as well as the roughness of the floor surface. In addition, the range of scanning angles and the resolution can be tailored precisely by adjusting the rotation angle and speed of the mirrors in the system. This feature gives users accuracy and flexibility to choose themost appropriate conditions for themeasurement depending on their usage. This enables the wide- spread use of autonomous robots that navigate inside or outside facilities withmoving objects around, including people. Commenting on the development of the 3D


system, Panasonic Industry Europe’s business developmentmanager Sudhanshu Kapoor says: “Panasonic’s 3D LiDAR is a big step forward for existing LiDAR technology due to its wide-angle detection range with a vertical field of view of up to 60° as well as a distance detection of 50m. Our 3D LiDAR has IP65 protection and anM12 plug and so is capable of withstanding all types of outdoor conditions. 3D LiDAR has a lot of value in the field


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