If this was to be used on a rotating servo at the same speed you used above (or faster) but for 360 degrees obstacle avoidance, would the 40m range be reduced? Also, would the accuracy of the readings be reduced? I’m asking because I noticed that rotating lidar rangefinders have a much lower range of about 5-6m, while most other lidar units are much higher. Also, does fire or sunlight interfere with the lidar’s readings?
@ahs: Yes, the speed could be increased and the system could be used for 360 degrees obstacle avoidance. The maximum range is a function of the signal strength returned. The main reason why the range gets smaller as you turn faster is because accurate distance measurements require multiple signals to be sent, received and processed. In most cases, with the LIDAR-Lite v1/v2, this is in the order of 50-250 samples that get analyzed per measurement (the stronger the signal, the less samples you need). This accumulation of signals allows for greater accuracy. Of course, you can always change the settings of the device to use less samples and therefore run faster (and allow for faster turning). But, this will cause the maximum range to be reduced / the accuracy at long ranges to be very low or even useless. Fire should not have significant impact aside from the fact that it cannot be sensed, since it will not reflect the IR signal. Sunlight has a minor impact but the signal used is pulsed with a complex signature and a filter is used, so the impact should be minimal.
I wonder if it is possible for the LIDAR Lite to detect a smoke or water vapor cloud from a distance of 5-25 meters. Since the cloud is not very dense, it seems the signal would penetrate into the cloud and perhaps be dispersed. Or perhaps it would be reflected, but the signal attenuated from dispersion into and then out of the cloud. Do you have any thoughts or comments on this application? Thank you!
@n6xb: Since the LIDAR-Lite is designed to measure distance by accumulation of differences in emitted/reflected signals, it will most likely not be able to effectively do what you wish. The main problem is that as long as some light is reflected from a surface behind the smoke/vapor, the device will do its best to get a distance measurement. If no signal is reflected back (all dispersed), it will then return a distance of 0/maximum. Since you do not have access to any of the process’ detection data (only the final result), you cannot know enough to determine is a cloud is detected or not. This would require you to have a custom firmware for the device (not likely, since it is of proprietary design). We recommend instead that you obtain a device built specifically for this kind of detection instead.
Dear Sebastien,
I’m looking to use the Lidar for measuring weave heights and the draft of my vessel, would thfa be possible? Is the the sensor capable to detect water surface, or do you recommend something else?
Thanks, Enno
Hi, can you suggest ultrasonic sensor for distance measurement which can detect maximum range of 10 metres,
For low cost usage in toys
@Mani You can see our selection of ultrasonic sensors here: https://www.robotshop.com/en/ultrasonic-range-finders.html
If you would like help selecting a specific sensor, please create a new post on the RobotShop Forum.
@Enno: The LIDAR-Lite is not the appropriate tool for your purpose, since the signal will go through and get lost in most liquids that are transparent, especially if placed perpendicular to the surface. You me better off with a ultrasonic sensor. Since you will be around lots of water and humidity, we recommend to go for an outdoor grade sensor and seals the connections using epoxy (back of the sensor) once you have confirmed the sensor is working with your setup.
Hey, whats up guys, nice tutorial, i dont know if u can help me so this is it. i have a big problem, im from Mexico and since august i have been waiing for a lidar sensor because there isnt in stock, and has been extending the arrival date many times, i need it so much for university, so if u know an another place where can i get it or even if you can sell me one used sensor I would thank you a lot,
or can u recommend a laser sensor with the same architecture, with compatibility for arduino, for long distance.
Thanks.
@Cesar: As you may know, last week we announced the availability of the LIDAR-Lite v3 for pre-order. The changing expected delivery date was due to the manufacturer making sure no issues with the product would make it to production. The LIDAR-Lite v1 was discontinued last year and the LIDAR-Lite v2 production was stopped in Januray 2015 when Garmin purchased PulsedLight 3D. Therefore, until we receive stock for the LIDAR-Lite v3 (soon, it is now in production), there are no alternatives for obtaining a LIDAR-Lite at this moment.
If you still want an alternative, we recommend that you check our LIDAR category.
Hi Sebastien, I wonder if you could comment a little bit about the purpose and function of the tx laser optics on the LIDAR-Lite? Also, is the detector optics the same? If not, what is the function of the detector optics? Thank you!
@n6xb: The TX and RX optics perform the same function, which is to focus the light either emitting from or returning to the sensor. Without the optics the sensor would not work.
Hi, Sebastien, i was wondering if i can put wireless read out screen to LIDAR-Lite v3?
@Bahadir Gurel: We are not completely sure of your intention, but if you wish to have a screen display data from the LIDAR-Lite v3 remotely, this can certainly be done, but you will need a few components to achieve this. Since this can get quite complex depending on your chosen solutions / requirements, we recommend that you instead post about your request on our forum. Make sure to provide as many details as you can concerning your project and your requirements to make it easier for others to help you find the required parts!
Hi Sebastian, I was wondering if it would be able to function in the similar way if the module was in a medium (air) and I need it to be able to detect the obstacle (floor) in another medium? I have tried it with a cell phone called Asus Zenfone Laser with a built in LIDAR and it showed the distance of surface of water. So will the module work the same way or otherwise?
@Santosh Pavan: If placed perpendicularly to water (or another transparent material), the signal from the LIDAR-Lite will most likely go through (nearly completely) and not come back to the receiver with enough strength to detect the distance appropriately. It seems the phone you are referring to uses a different type of technology (for autofocus) which will have different types of properties. The LIDAR-Lite is meant/configured for long-range, high-speed distance measurement. For water to be detectable, it would be preferable if it has a way to reflect the signal sufficiently, such as high turbidity.
Thanks Sebastian for replying so fast. The project that I am doing is detecting pothole(primary) and puddles (secondary). So this mainly involves the LIDAR being used in an inclined position rather than a perpendicular one. Will it work the same? And I am trying to use LIDAR to detect the ground from air through water, not detect the water surface.
And can I rely on LIDAR to function even if I don’t use it perpendicularly. And is there another version of LIDAR or another sensor that will surely give me the required output? Thanks in advance.
Is it waterproof?
@Pranav: No, it is not waterproof. It also does not have any IP rating. You can create a casing to protect it from the environment. If you do, Make sure the optics are flat against a IR transparent surface to prevent any issues with the signals and measurements.
@Santosh Pavan: If you search (CTRL+F) the previous comments for “potholes”, you will notice we already answered another community member about a similar inquiry but concerning a different issue.
Using the LIDAR-Lite at an angle may work, but this would need experimentation. Of course, if the water is murky at all, it may very well absorb/reflect much of the signal and appear as “road” to the sensor. There is also the issue of field of view (FoV). Since the LIDAR-Lite is meant for long-range measurements, it does not detect along a wide FoV. You would also need to rotate or move the sensor to detect potholes over a large enough width/area to be useful. And, as mentioned in the other answer, the movement speed of the detector/equipment relative to the road is also an issue (the faster it is, the larger the “blindspot” between scans). Therefore, while the LIDAR-Lite might work for low-speed applications (on dry days) for a “proof-of-concept” type of project, it may not function very well in the real world. You would most likely need custom equipment, such as this research project from 2013.