How does LIDAR work?

The most basic working principle of LIDAR is no different from that of radio radar, i.e., the radar transmitting system sends out a signal, which hits trees, roads, bridges, and buildings on the ground, causing scattering, and then is collected by the receiving system after being reflected by the target, and the distance to the target is determined by measuring the running time of the reflected light.

As for the radial speed of the target, it can be determined by the Doppler shift of the reflected light, or it can measure two or more distances and calculate the rate of change to get the speed, which is the basic working principle of the direct detection type radar.

Laser radar's role is to accurately measure the target's position (distance and angle), shape (size) and state (speed, attitude), so as to achieve the purpose of detecting, recognizing and tracking the target.

Lidar is a radar system that is an active sensor and the data formed is in the form of a point cloud. Its working spectral band between infrared and ultraviolet, the main transmitter, receiver, measurement control and power supply components.

Extended information

Lidar classification

Generally speaking, in accordance with the modern concept of Lidar, often divided into the following:

1, according to the laser band, there are ultraviolet Lidar, visible Lidar and infrared Lidar.

2, according to the laser medium, there are gas LIDAR, solid-state LIDAR, semiconductor LIDAR and diode laser pumped solid-state LIDAR.

3, according to the laser emission waveform, there are pulse laser radar, continuous wave laser radar and hybrid laser radar.

4, according to the display mode, there are analog or digital display lidar and imaging lidar.

5, according to the delivery platform, there are ground-based fixed lidar, vehicle-mounted lidar, airborne lidar, ship-mounted lidar, star-mounted lidar, bomb-mounted lidar and handheld lidar.

6, by function, there are laser range radar, laser speed radar, laser angular radar and tracking radar, laser imaging radar, laser target indicator and bio-laser radar.

7, according to the use of points, there are laser rangefinder, range laser radar, fire control laser radar, tracking and identification laser radar, multi-functional tactical laser radar, detector laser radar, navigation laser radar, meteorological laser radar, detector and atmospheric monitoring laser radar and so on.

Baidu Encyclopedia - Lidar