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Luminar's LIDAR

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malcolm

Active Member
Nov 12, 2006
3,072
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Background: Under the Hood of Luminar's Long-Reach Lidar
Current automotive lidars scan their surroundings by firing pulses from semiconductor diode lasers emitting at 905 nanometers in the near infrared and recording reflected light to build up a point cloud mapping the car’s surroundings. But laser-safety rules in the U.S. and other countries restrict the power in the laser pulse, limiting the lidar’s range to 30 to 40 meters, too short a distance for a car to stop safely at highway speeds....
The key to that success is looser safety rules that let Luminar’s lasers fire pulses 40 times more powerful at 1550 nm than 905-nm lasers are allowed to fire in a conventional car.
Interview (weak audio):


Website: Luminar - Technology

Just needs a cut-out window in the front of the vehicle. Not sure why they don't mount it behind the windshield. Special glass for 1550nm?