Planar-Beam LiDAR Scanning With Fewer Beams and Lower Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current LIDAR systems for autonomous vehicles require numerous fixed beams to achieve safe operation at high speeds, leading to increased power consumption, processing demands, and costs, while also being cumbersome and complex.
Innovation Solution
A planar-beam, light detection and ranging (PLADAR) system that uses a single laser scanner emitting a planar beam and a detector array to reduce the number of beams needed, utilizing a fiber laser and adjustable photodetectors to maintain data quality with lower pulse rates, thereby reducing complexity and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the number of laser beams is increased to achieve safe operation at high speeds, then the detection precision and safety are improved, but the device complexity, cost, and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple laser beams into a single planar beam that can illuminate multiple targets simultaneously. Instead of using multiple separate laser sources and photodetectors, a single laser source generates a planar beam that covers a wide angular range, and a single photodetector array detects reflections from all directions, significantly reducing system complexity while maintaining high detection precision
Solution Approach 2:
The planar beam configuration allows a single laser source to perform multiple detection functions simultaneously. The same planar beam serves to detect multiple objects at different angles and distances, making the system multi-functional without requiring additional components. The photodetector array similarly handles multiple detection angles with a single device
2Measurement precision
If the number of laser beams is increased to achieve safe operation at high speeds, then the detection precision and safety are improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple laser beams into a single planar beam that can illuminate multiple targets simultaneously. Instead of using multiple separate laser sources and photodetectors, a single laser source generates a planar beam that covers a wide angular range, and a single photodetector array detects reflections from all directions, significantly reducing system complexity while maintaining high detection precision
Solution Approach 2:
The planar beam configuration allows a single laser source to perform multiple detection functions simultaneously. The same planar beam serves to detect multiple objects at different angles and distances, making the system multi-functional without requiring additional components. The photodetector array similarly handles multiple detection angles with a single device
3Measurement precision
If the number of photodetectors is increased to detect multiple beams, then the detection precision is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple laser beams into a single planar beam that can illuminate multiple targets simultaneously. Instead of using multiple separate laser sources and photodetectors, a single laser source generates a planar beam that covers a wide angular range, and a single photodetector array detects reflections from all directions, significantly reducing system complexity while maintaining high detection precision
Solution Approach 2:
The planar beam configuration allows a single laser source to perform multiple detection functions simultaneously. The same planar beam serves to detect multiple objects at different angles and distances, making the system multi-functional without requiring additional components. The photodetector array similarly handles multiple detection angles with a single device
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The PLADAR system achieves high data quality with reduced complexity and cost, enabling safe autonomous vehicle operation at high speeds while minimizing power and processing requirements.
Implementation Method 1
Light detection, and ranging (LIDAR or LADAR) systems utilize a number of laser beams to detect reflectance or backscatter from the laser beams to map surface features
Implementation Method 2
utilizing a fiber laser and adjustable photodetectors to maintain data quality with lower pulse rates
Data Source
AI summary
A planar-beam, light detection and ranging (PLADAR) system can include a laser scanner that emits a planar-beam, and a detector array that detects reflected light from the planar beam.