LIDAR 101
What is lidar?
Lidar (light detection and ranging) uses eye-safe laser beams to “see” the world in 3D, providing machines and computers an accurate representation of the surveyed environment.
How Does Lidar Work?
-
A typical lidar sensor emits pulsed light waves into the surrounding environment.
-
These pulses bounce off surrounding objects and return to the sensor.
-
The sensor uses the time it took for each pulse to return to the sensor to calculate the distance it traveled.
Repeating this process millions of times per second creates a precise, real-time 3D map of the environment. This 3D map is called a point cloud. An onboard computer can utilize the lidar point cloud for safe navigation.
How Does Lidar Keep Us Safe?
Watch this video to learn all about the technology and how it can advance roadway safety, prevent crashes and save lives.
FAQs
- What is lidar?
- How does lidar work?
- Is lidar eye safe?
- Can a lidar sensor drive a car?
- Why is lidar needed for autonomous vehicles?
- Does all lidar provide a 360-horizontal degree field of view?
- Do lidar and other sensors have blind spots?
- How many channels (laser beams) does a lidar sensor need for high resolution?
- How does lidar compare to camera systems?
- What other sensors are needed along with lidar for autonomous driving?
- Why is higher resolution needed for autonomous vehicles?
- How much resolution is needed for object identification?
- What is the difference between using a 1550 nm and a 905 nm wavelength laser in lidar?
Gain Further Insight About Velodyne’s Lidar Technology
VIEW BLOG
A breath of fresh air for the Scottish town of Thornhill
A case study looking at the use of DigiFlec and Velodyne Lidar for a LEADER project in rural Scotland to monitor traffic flow.
READ MORE
Elevating high-precision aerial lidar mapping with TOPODRONE and Velodyne Lidar
TOPODRONE’s newest product, the LiDAR PRIME + aOrion Heli-E, uses Velodyne’s lidar to provide their most advanced lidar system.
READ MORE
VDK Release 2022.3: Expanding Computing Platform Options for Developers
Vella Development Kit VDK 2022.3 has been released, expanding computing platform options for our customers.
READ MORE
Increasing public safety in the energy sector with lidar
Visimind uses Velodyne’s lidar sensors to provide lidar-based solutions for energy companies in vegetation management and more.
READ MORE
IIS is now BlueCity
Velodyne Lidar’s Intelligent Infrastructure Solution, or IIS, will now be called BlueCity, offering intelligent transportation solutions.
READ MORE
A breath of fresh air for the Scottish town of Thornhill
A case study looking at the use of DigiFlec and Velodyne Lidar for a LEADER project in rural Scotland to monitor traffic flow.
READ MORE
Elevating high-precision aerial lidar mapping with TOPODRONE and Velodyne Lidar
TOPODRONE’s newest product, the LiDAR PRIME + aOrion Heli-E, uses Velodyne’s lidar to provide their most advanced lidar system.
READ MORE
VDK Release 2022.3: Expanding Computing Platform Options for Developers
Vella Development Kit VDK 2022.3 has been released, expanding computing platform options for our customers.
READ MORE
Increasing public safety in the energy sector with lidar
Visimind uses Velodyne’s lidar sensors to provide lidar-based solutions for energy companies in vegetation management and more.
READ MORE
IIS is now BlueCity
Velodyne Lidar’s Intelligent Infrastructure Solution, or IIS, will now be called BlueCity, offering intelligent transportation solutions.
READ MORE
A breath of fresh air for the Scottish town of Thornhill
A case study looking at the use of DigiFlec and Velodyne Lidar for a LEADER project in rural Scotland to monitor traffic flow.
READ MORE
Smart, Powerful Lidar Solutions
BROWSE PRODUCTS
LEARN
- What is lidar?
- White Papers
- Case Studies
PRODUCTS
- Velarray M1600
- Alpha Prime
- Ultra Puck
- Puck Hi-Res
- Puck LITE
- Puck
INDUSTRIES
- ADAS
- Autonomous Vehicles
- Trucking
- Drone/UAV
- Industrial
- Mapping
- Robotics
- Infrastructure
- Security
COMPANY
- About
- Investors
- History
- Newsroom
- Awards
- Contact Us
© Velodyne Lidar, Inc. 2023 All Rights Reserved
- Terms of Use
- Privacy Policy
