LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging)

LiDAR is a measurement technique that uses laser pulses to determine the distance to objects based on the return time of reflected light, enabling precise 3D maps of the surroundings to be built.

How does LiDAR work?

The system sends out a short laser pulse and measures the time it takes for light reflected off a surface it encounters to return — from this, knowing the speed of light, it calculates the exact distance to the object. Scanning the beam in multiple directions (mechanically or with solid-state technology) lets you build a complete 3D point cloud of the surroundings.

Applications

LiDAR is a key sensor in autonomous vehicles and ADAS systems, used in surveying and aerial terrain scanning, mobile robotics, and industrial safety systems that detect the presence of people in hazardous zones.

Related terms

Non-sequential ray tracing

Stray light

Silicon photonics