PiLiDAR, an open-source project providing the resources to build a Raspberry Pi lidar, brings 360° 3D scanning to makers and students at a surprisingly low cost. It combines a Raspberry Pi 4, an LDRobot Lidar sensor, and a fisheye camera. A stepper motor rotates the system, allowing it to collect panoramic images and 360° lidar data. The images are stitched into 6K panoramas, and the lidar captures precise distance measurements to build point clouds.
This setup offers powerful features for under $300. It supports real-time 2D scan visualization, colorized 3D point clouds, and scan alignment for larger scenes. The open-source software, written in Python, includes tools like Open3D for visualization and Hugin for image stitching. All parts and instructions are available on GitHub, including printable components for the camera mount and gearbox. This makes it ideal for robotics, education, and digital twin applications.
PiLiDAR also supports advanced scene reconstruction techniques, including mesh generation and point cloud registration. Makers can export data in common formats like CSV, NumPy, or PLY and process them on a desktop for higher performance tasks. With strong documentation and a modular design, it’s easy to modify or upgrade components. This is a great project for anyone interested in learning more about spatial data and enjoying hands-on tinkering. It’s approachable for beginners and powerful enough for more advanced users. To explore the code, hardware, or step-by-step build guide, visit the PiLiDAR GitHub repository.
Additionally, the creator of PiLidar posted about this project on Reddit. The thread has interesting details and a detailed conversation amongst scanning professionals. I recommend reading it – https://www.reddit.com/r/LiDAR/comments/1f788wq/pidar_a_diy_360_3d_scanner/.
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