A LiDAR sensor measures distance by emitting laser pulses and timing their reflections, producing dense 3D point clouds of the surrounding environment. Variants include mechanical spinning, solid-state, and flash designs that trade field of view, range, and cost. LiDAR is a cornerstone perception modality for autonomous robots, reality capture, and occupancy mapping.
Content
- Time-of-flight ranging yields centimetre-accurate depth independent of ambient lighting, complementing cameras in sensor fusion. Point density, scan rate, and range determine suitability for high-speed driving versus detailed indoor mapping.