There are certain things to look for when you want to buy a great LiDAR. In this article, we explore five of them to help you avoid making a costly decision.
But before we dive in, first things first:
What is LiDAR?
LiDAR stands for “light detection and ranging,” a technology that has been around for many years. LiDAR was used in the 1960s for aerospace applications. By 1970, organizations such as NASA started using it for remote sensing in their development of exploratory spacecraft. Today, LiDAR is used to equip robots and UAVs with “eyes”, and help farmers pinpoint areas with sunshine.
How does LiDAR work?
Well, a LiDAR works by sending pulses of laser light and calculates the exact time and distance from the earth’s surface. By simply attaching a LiDAR sensor to a UAV, it will accurately sense larger surface areas as the UAV platform is moving ahead.
Typically, modern UAV-based LiDAR products fall into one of the following categories:
- Flash LiDAR time-of-flight or ToF cameras. These are the most basic and affordable products. They tend to be lightweight, therefore suitable for applications such as car collision features, augmented reality(AR), and object tracking devices.
- Then there are Survey-grade sensors, which are compatible with narrow laser beams. They are a bit more costly than ToFs, weighing around 1 to 4 kg. You can integrate them with multi-copter UAV platforms and use them for spatial resolution of more than 500 points.
- Then you get LiDAR sensors which use pulses to calculate ranges more accurately. Army UAVs and robots are usually attached with them to give them eyes to inspect dangerous sites or monitor suspicious activities.
3 key benefits of using LiDAR sensors you need to know:
- LiDAR sensors help businesses complete projects faster
Using good LiDAR allows surveyors to complete projects faster than they would normally do when using traditional survey methods. According to Micro Drones, LiDAR sensors
can cover the entire project in just 110 minutes.
- There are no physical limitations
Perhaps one of the greatest advantages of using LiDAR sensors is that workers are not constrained by physical limitations. A LiDAR sensor can simply be attached to a UAV to help it venture into dangerous territories.
- LiDAR helps with environmental Conservation
The environment is vital to our wellbeing, and we should all strive to protect it. By using LiDAR applications, scientists can investigate the threats to our environment with precision.
Five key things to consider for a good LiDAR:
1. Company reputation
First and foremost, you need to check the reputation of the LiDAR vendor. Find out how long they have been in business, who their clients are, and where their business is located. Say you want to buy LiDAR Rangefinders, you need to confirm if the vendor develops and distributes them within a specific period of time. How responsive are they to their customers? And what are their overall service quality, turnaround time; and most importantly – do they run their business with integrity?
2. Accuracy of the LiDAR sensor
If your LiDAR product lacks accuracy you are likely to waste time in quality control. Consider three types of accuracies: relative accuracy (data that can be measured in axis), absolute accuracy (data measured in the vertical axis only), and classification accuracy (measured by object comparison. Experts also highly recommend that your LiDAR has an excellent IMU that can calibrate faster.
3. The cost
Next up, you need to assess all the cost implications. Establish if the price includes import tariffs, transportation, and so forth. After all, the LiDAR product you need should be reasonably priced. Perhaps consider a company that manufactures low-cost LiDAR products like this one.
4. The size
Not all LiDAR products are created equal. They range from a nanophotonics-based LiDAR technology the size of a finger to huge devices. So, you should have an idea of the size of your LiDAR before processing that payment.
5. The type of a LiDAR product
Last but not least, know what type of LiDAR product you are looking for. Perhaps you can consider single beam sensors. While they are mostly stationary, some have a rotating assembly. Furthermore, they can do linear 2D “maps”, which means they can still give your robots and drones “eyes”.
Looking for the best LiDAR sensors at insanely low prices? We would love to hear from you.
