Mitsubishi Electric launches compact lidar with wide-angle scanning

Wide-angle lenses are no longer just for cameras. In the field of autonomous driving, LiDAR also needs to use wide-angle technology for precise scanning. Recently, Mitsubishi Electric has developed a compact LiDAR solution that integrates micro-electromechanical systems to achieve ultra-wide horizontal scanning.

The new LiDAR solution can generate 3D images of vehicles and pedestrians, and accurately detect the shape of the target in front of the vehicle and the distance between them. It is reported that this LiDAR solution is very low-cost, and Mitsubishi Electric hopes to ensure the safety of self-driving cars through this solution.

For self-driving cars, the LiDAR system needs a larger mirror surface to collect reflected light to the maximum extent possible in order to obtain 3D images with the highest accuracy. Mitsubishi Electric's LiDAR integrates a large-size 7mm*5mm electromagnetic wave reflector, which is lightweight in design without sacrificing product rigidity, and can also achieve both horizontal and vertical scanning. Mitsubishi Electric has also improved the beam structure of the MEMS, greatly increasing the system's longitudinal and vertical scanning amplitude.

After optimized design, this laser radar can achieve ultra-wide-angle horizontal scanning, and vehicles ahead, pedestrians crossing the road, traffic lights, traffic signs and roadside obstacles can all be clearly scanned. Thanks to the optimized layout of signal processing circuits, power circuits and optical transmission components, the main body of this laser radar is only 900 cubic centimeters. In the future, Mitsubishi Electric plans to develop a smaller mini laser radar that will be one-third the size of existing laser radars.