LiDAR (light detection and ranging) measures distances with laser pulses and builds three-dimensional point clouds. On drones it is used for surveying, corridor mapping, forestry, mining and inspection, and, in smaller forms, for obstacle detection and autonomous navigation.
Types
Survey-grade laser scanners: high accuracy, long range and multiple returns per pulse to see through vegetation. Combined with a high-grade INS and GNSS in an integrated mapping system.
Mapping systems with integrated cameras: LiDAR plus RGB cameras for colourised point clouds.
Perception LiDAR: compact sensors with wide fields of view for obstacle avoidance and navigation.
Key specifications
Range at a given target reflectivity, and the operating altitude it allows.
Accuracy and precision of the point cloud (system level, including the INS).
Pulse rate and point density on the ground.
Number of returns per pulse, important for vegetation penetration.
Field of view and scan pattern.
Laser wavelength and eye-safety class.
Mass, power and integration (mounts, data storage, synchronisation).
Software for trajectory processing and point cloud classification.
Choosing
For terrain under vegetation, choose multiple returns and high point density. For long corridors, range and accuracy at altitude matter most. The quality of the trajectory (INS and GNSS processing) is as important as the laser itself.
Every laser point is placed in space using the aircraft position and attitude at that instant. Errors in attitude become position errors in the point cloud that grow with range, so mapping LiDAR needs a precise INS.
Can drone LiDAR see through trees?
Partly. Some pulses pass through gaps in the canopy and reach the ground. Sensors that record multiple returns per pulse capture both vegetation and terrain.
What is the difference between LiDAR and photogrammetry?
Photogrammetry builds 3D models from overlapping photos and needs visible texture and light. LiDAR measures distances directly, works in low light and penetrates vegetation better, but costs more.
Ouster's REV7 lidar family, built on the L3 digital chip, spans the OS0, OS1 and OS2 plus the new 180° hemispherical OSDome. Ouster claims higher range and finer precision with no change in sensor size or weight.
Gremsy has signed a memorandum of understanding with South Korean UAV manufacturer NINANO to explore integrating Gremsy's EO/IR camera payloads into NINANO's unmanned platforms. The agreement sets a framework for technical collaboration…
SimActive launches an integrated workflow that brings Phase One aerial imagery into its Correlator3D photogrammetry software for large-scale defense mapping. The link targets the processing stage, where users who collect tens of thousands…
Featured
Featured
Featured
Featured
FeaturedLiDAR
Featured
Featured
Featured
Featured
Featured
Featured
Featured
Featured
Featured
