The history of Lidar technology date back to the Apollo-15 mission. Lidar uses laser pulses to measure distances and gather three-dimensional information. Today, it is indispensable for autonomous driving.
From an article in All About Industries by Dr. Mathias Müller.
Dr. Mathias Müller is founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Field of View.
Originally developed in the early 1960s and first used effectively in the Apollo-15 mission in 1971, Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) uses laser pulses for optical distance measurement and provides precise three-dimensional information that creates added value in numerous application fields—from geography to logistics to the security industry.
In industrial applications that require high range and accuracy, solid-state 3D Lidar sensors are often used. These work according to the Time-of-Flight (ToF) principle: A diode emits laser pulses, which are picked up again by a detector after reflecting off objects. The light’s time of flight is used for distance measurement by proprietary software. The sensor emits several hundred thousand laser pulses per second, which are deflected over a large field of view via MEMS mirrors (MEMS: Micro-Electro-Mechanical System), thus creating precise 3D images of the environment, so-called point clouds.
This technology captures the spatial location and shape of objects regardless of surface material and environmental conditions, enabling detailed reconstruction. The term ‘Solid State’ refers to the fact that the technology is semiconductor-based and does not require moving parts. Therefore, Lidar sensors are robust, compact, and cost-effective, making them ideal for many commercial applications.
How Lidar technology has evolved
The development of laser technology in the 1960s laid the foundation for Lidar. Lidar’s first application was in terrain mapping for air and space travel, especially for the topographic mapping of forests, ice surfaces, oceans, and the atmosphere. Lidar’s first major public appearance was in 1971 when NASA used the technology on the Apollo 15 mission to measure the surface of the moon. About ten years later, Lidar was also used in the surveying of Mars.
For the complete article on the history of lidar CLICK HERE.
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