A LiDAR (acronym for LiDAR, Light Detection and Ranging or Laser Imaging Detection and Ranging) is a device that allows the distance from a laser emitter to an object or surface to be determined using a pulsed laser beam. The distance to the object is determined by measuring the delay time between the emission of the pulse and its detection through the reflected signal.
Benewake is a leading manufacturer in this technology and within its Lidar sensors there are cheap sensors with the TF-Luna that has multiple protocols: UART, I²C, I/O and scope from 0.2 to 8 meters and other models for greater ranges such as the TF02-Pro that can reach a distance of 40 meters.
The applications are very diverse, from simple robotics, to robots for warehouse automation, drones, fill level control in silos, even driving autonomous vehicles.
Some of the versions support RS485 protocol for developments that require it and some models even incorporate a cleaning brush for automatic cleaning of the sensor in hostile environments where dust is an added problem.
