To be able to measure the distance to an object or surface with a laser, it uses LiDAR (LIght Detection of Laser Imaging And Ranging) technology. The LiDAR laser emits a laser pulse to an object or surface. The pulse is then reflected. The distance is calculated based on the elapsed time between the emission of the laser pulse and receiving the reflection.
Lidar works on the same principle as radar: a signal is transmitted and will be received again some time later after reflection. The distance to the object or surface is determined by measuring the time that elapses between emitting a pulse and receiving a reflection of that pulse.
Autonomous driving: Autonomous vehicles use lidar to scan the environment around them and detect objects such as other vehicles, pedestrians and road signs.
Robotics: Robots use lidar to navigate their environment and manipulate objects.
Cartography: Lidar is used to create 3D maps of the environment. These maps can be used for navigation, city planning and other purposes.
Safety: Lidar is used to detect dangerous objects or situations. This can be used to protect people from accidents.
LIDAR, with its multifunctional capabilities, is transforming diverse industries. Discover its versatility in five critical areas: robotics, environmental and object mapping, autonomous vehicles, security and logistics.
Lidar lasers play a crucial role in collision avoidance in various industries due to their accurate and fast detection capability. In robotics, Lidar technology is used for collision avoidance between robots and between robots and humans. In crane operations, Lidar is used to avoid collisions with objects or people in the working environment, preventing accidents. For earth vehicles and agricultural vehicles, Lidar is indispensable in avoiding collisions with obstacles in the field and maintaining an even level of the vehicle, ensuring efficient and safe operation. In addition, Lidar is used for intrusion detection, where the system provides immediate warning of unauthorized access to secure areas. Thanks to Lidar's advanced technology, security is maintained in a variety of operational environments.
The versatility of Lidar technology is reflected in its ability to measure, map and object profile. This advanced technology enables natural navigation for both indoor and outdoor vehicles, generating accurate maps for complex environments. Through Lidar, environments are accurately mapped, which is essential for various applications such as environmental mapping and object measurement. Lidar's ability to measure and profile objects enables it to provide detailed information about the shape, area and volume of objects. These capabilities are invaluable to various sectors, such as urban planning, forestry and industrial design, as they provide precision and in-depth information for efficient planning and execution of projects.
Lidar lasers have become an integral part of the evolution within autonomous mobile robots (AMR) and robotics, where they perform several crucial functions. The technology enables accurate shape recognition, allowing AMR systems and robots to reliably identify objects in their environment. Lidar also plays a vital role in collision prevention and avoidance, which is essential for the safe operation of AMR systems, especially in sectors such as postal services and sanitary shuttles, both indoors and outdoors. In addition, Lidar is used for access monitoring, where the system closely monitors movement and activity for security purposes. Lidar's natural navigation skills are invaluable for both indoor and outdoor environments, while also providing other supporting functions that contribute to the overall efficiency and safety of autonomous systems in robotics.
Several crucial functions can be fulfilled by Lidar for efficient and safe operations. Load handling capability is optimized by Lidar, allowing AGV systems to move goods effortlessly and accurately. Lateral monitoring is essential for detecting lateral obstacles, while the presence of pallets on forklifts is reliably monitored by Lidar. Lidar's ability to provide rear-end monitoring and collision prevention minimizes the risk of collisions in logistics environments. Dark areas are effectively monitored, allowing AGV systems to operate safely in areas with limited visibility. With natural navigation skills and accurate detection of pallet presence in warehouses, Lidar contributes significantly to the optimization of logistics processes and the safety of AGV operations.
Gate monitoring is optimized by Lidar, allowing accurate monitoring of access points. In parking systems, Lidar is used for access control, ensuring safe and controlled access to parking facilities. Lidar-based security monitoring allows systems to quickly and accurately detect movement and activity, enhancing the security of secure areas.
Parking can also be measured in parking lots or truck rest areas. The laser measures the distance to the rear of the last car or truck in a row, allowing the number of free parking spaces behind the vehicle to be calculated.
In addition to LiDAR lasers, there are many other laser products. For example, Sensor Partners has a wide range of distance lasers. Sensor Partners' distance lasers can be used in many different industrial environments. Below are some examples of possible applications and which type of laser is most suitable for this.
To prevent collisions or to position containers in ports or docks, depending on the desired measurement range. The LAM 300 series can be deployed. Using this laser, the operator of the harbor crane knows the exact position of the container in relation to the harbor crane. Another use for these series is measuring distances for mooring ships. For example, the LAM 300 can measure up to 270 meters (with reflector)!
To detect the position of objects with a high temperature, the LAM 70 series offers a suitable solution. The distance lasers can be used to determine the position of objects such as trains at train stations and other boarding places. The lasers provide assistance in decelerating the train to ensure that it is stopped at the correct position. Sensor Partners offers a reliable solution here in supporting automated trains.
The LAM 70 can be used for traffic management. The laser measures the distance to a vehicle to determine the traffic volume or speed of passing vehicles. The laser detects the vehicle at two moments, namely the set distance and the moment it passes under the laser. This laser is ideally suited for use in traffic because these are eye safe and at a high switching frequency that can keep up with fast passing traffic.
There are applications, in a transshipment terminal, for example, where it is necessary to determine the filling rate of a silo. When a new load of feed arrives, it must be distributed to the silos where sufficient storage capacity is available. By monitoring this with the laser distance sensors, the operator can read which of the silos is free and how many tons of feed can be dumped into it.
