In the same way the common word radar is actually an acronym for “radio detection and ranging,” LiDAR is an acronym for “light detection and ranging.” The basic principle behind LiDAR is that the speed of light is a well-known, universal constant. If you measure exactly how long it takes a beam of light to reach an object and then reflect back to its source, and you multiply that result by the speed of light, you know the distance between those two objects with high precision.
Typically, lasers, rather than ordinary light, are used in LiDAR systems to deliver pinpoint accuracy. Commercial LiDAR systems, like those built by FARO, employ an array of spinning lasers that sweep across the environment and rapidly build up an accurate 3D model. Of course,…
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RotorDrone Pro (Digital) - 1 Issue, March - April 2020