LIDAR, which stands for "light detection and ranging," is a method that many robotic systems use as a form of sight and the new LIDAR sensor developed by scientists at MIT and DARPA has the potential to open the eyes of roboticists everywhere. Produced on 300 millimeter wafers for a cost of approximately 10 dollars each, the new LIDAR sensor is significantly smaller and cheaper than the competition.
LIDAR is a high-tech system that treats light in the way that radar treats radio waves. Due to its complexity, previous LIDAR sensors have been both large and expensive, with commercially available systems running up to the price of a high-end car. The new LIDAR sensor from MIT and DARPA not only solves these size and price problems, but is also more robust, with beam steering that's 1,000 times faster than other systems.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Miniaturized LIDAR Sensors
- The development of miniaturized LIDAR sensors presents disruptive innovation opportunities in various industries.
- Affordable LIDAR Technology
- The affordability of LIDAR technology opens up possibilities for disruptive innovation in different sectors.
- Faster Beam Steering
- The advancement in beam steering speed offers disruptive innovation potential in multiple industries.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Robotics
- Miniaturized LIDAR sensors can revolutionize the field of robotics, enabling smaller and more cost-effective robotic systems for various applications.
- Autonomous Vehicles
- Affordable LIDAR technology paves the way for disruptive innovation in the autonomous vehicle industry, making self-driving cars more accessible and safer.
- Mapping and Surveying
- The faster beam steering capability of LIDAR sensors presents disruptive innovation opportunities in the field of mapping and surveying, enabling quicker and more accurate data collection.
