Feature

Seeing farther with LIDAR using tracking

Technology has always been a tool to free us from our most boring tasks. For many of us in the modern world, few things are more tiresome than being stuck in traffic on our morning commutes or dealing with highway hypnosis and long weekend traffic for hours on end. While this has fuelled much excitement over autonomous vehicles (AVs), the prospect of two-ton pieces of metal zooming around unattended has also led to a renewed focus on technology to enable their safe operation.

06/10/2021 16:00:05

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To achieve superhuman safety, a detailed 3D map of various dynamic objects (such as other cars, pedestrians, and bicycles) is generally considered essential to
an AV. Light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensors are often considered among the most useful systems to have on board, as they are capable
of forming such detailed maps. An example is shown in Figure 1.
The farther away a self-driving car can reliably detect the presence of an
object on the road, the easier an evasive manoeuvre becomes.

Researchers based at Analog Garage (Analog Devices’ technology centre) have investigated extending the detection
range of LIDAR systems and developed a way of using physical constraints on the movement of objects to extend range.

Read the full article in DPA's October issue

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.