A Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) is a device fitted with a laser emitter capable of measuring distances with high accuracy. In the automotive industry, with the advent of autonomous cars, manufacturers are using the LIDAR system as an advanced driver assistance system. Swedish automobile brand Volvo for example, has already announced that its next generation of cars, beginning with the new XC90 in 2022, will use this technology developed by Luminar.
What an automobile LIDAR system does is that it constructs a 3D model of the path ahead of the car and conducts the necessary computations to interact with that environment by emitting millions of points of laser light.
In this guide about LIDAR for autonomous vehicles, we will take a look at the applications of LIDAR in autonomous driving and the pros and cons of LIDAR in cars.
How Does LIDAR Work in Cars
A lidar sensor uses a laser to send infrared light waves into the surroundings. These light pulses bounce off nearby objects and return to the sensor, which calculates the time it takes for them to return. From the information or data acquired by the LIDAR system, the sensor builds a map of 3D points which creates and captures an image of the car’s surroundings.
Advantages of LIDAR in Cars
The pros of LIDAR in autonomous driving are as follows:
- Works both day and night. An active illumination sensor is used in LIDAR technology. As a result, it is unaffected by the change of light between day and night.
- LiDAR technology provides extremely precise and reliable data. The short wavelength can identify small things and produce precise 3D representations, allowing the car’s sensors to detect whether there are trees, people or walls in its path.
- Maps with high resolution: Due to its capacity to create high-resolution maps, LIDAR is extensively used in archaeology, geography, geology, geomorphology, seismology, and aerial laser swath mapping (ALSM) to collect highly dense and precise elevation data over landscapes and shallow-water regions.
Disadvantages of LIDAR System in Cars
There is no doubt that technologies like the LIDAR system can make autonomous driving convenient and safer. However, the LIDAR system has some downsides too. The cons of lidar system in self-driving cars are as follows:
- LIDAR cannot measure long distances like RADAR because the wavelength of LIDAR is in the micrometre range, whereas the wavelength of RADAR is between 30 cm and 3 mm. The RADAR’s wavelength allows it to identify things at greater distances and through fog or clouds.
- Unable to identify objects in rain: One of the problems with LIDAR sensors is that its performance declines in rain. If a LiDAR beam collides with a raindrop close to the transmitter, the raindrop reflects the beam back to the receiver, allowing the LIDAR detector to detect raindrop as an object.
- High cost: The LiDAR equipment comprises numerous precision components. Due to its complicated structure and the cost of essential components, LiDAR is costly. This means that manufacturers will charge you extra if you opt for a car with a LIDAR system.
Which Cars Have the LIDAR System?
Some prominent automobile brands known to have the LIDAR system include Daimler, Volvo, Mobileye and Toyota Motors. With the number of self-driving cars projected to rise and advancement in the levels of self-driving technologies, it is expected that the use of LIDAR in automotive industry will further increase.
This brings us to the end of our guide about the LIDAR in autonomous driving. If you are looking for cars with modern features, check out this huge collection of used cars for sale in the UAE.
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