3D LiDAR technology brought to mass-market with Livox sensor

US: Livox is shifting the marketplace for LiDAR sensors by introducing a reliable, compact, ready-to-use solution for innovators, professionals and engineers, around the world working closely with 3D sensing technology. After years of intense R&D and exhaustive testing, Livox has released three high-performance LiDAR sensors: The Mid-40/Mid-100, Horizon, and Tele-15. All sensors are developed with a wide range of different industry applications in mind, offering customers a best-in-class combination of precision, range, price and size.

As the first available Livox sensor, the Mid-40/Mid-100 sensor can accurately sense three-dimensional spatial information under various environmental conditions, and plays an indispensable role in fields such as autonomous driving, robotics, mapping, logistics, security, search and rescue, to name a few.

Low Cost and Mass Production

Traditionally, high-performance mechanical LiDAR products usually demand highly-skilled personnel and are therefore prohibitively expensive and in short supply. To encourage the adoption of LiDAR technology in a number of different industries ranging from 3D mapping and surveying to robotics and engineering, Livox Mid-40/Mid-100 is developed with cost-efficiency in mind while still maintaining superior performance.

Instead of using expensive laser emitters or immature MEMS scanners, Mid-40/Mid-100 adopts lower cost semiconductor components for light generation and detection. The entire optical system, including the scanning units, uses proven and readily available optical components such as those employed in the optical lens industry. This sensor also introduces a uniquely-designed low cost signal acquisition method to achieve superior performance. All these factors contribute to an accessible price point – $599 for a single unit of Mid-40.

Livox Mid-40/Mid-100 adopts a large aperture refractive scanning method that utilizes a coaxial design. This approach uses far fewer laser detector pairs, yet maintains the high point density and detection distances. This design dramatically reduces the difficulty of optical alignment during production and enable significant production yield increase.

Powerful and Compact

The Mid-40 sensor covers a circular FOV of 38.4 degrees with a detection range of up to 260 meters (for objects with reflectivity at 80%). Meanwhile, the Mid-100 combines three Mid-40 units internally to form an expansive horizontal FOV of 98.4 degrees (Horizontal) x 38.4 degrees (Vertical). The point rate for Mid-40 is 100,000 points/s while for Mid-100 is 300,000 points/s. The range precision (1σ @ 25 m) of each sensor is 2 cm and the angular accuracy is < 0.1 degrees.

Livox sensor’s advanced non-repetitive scanning patterns deliver highly-accurate details. These scanning patterns even provide high point density in a short period of time and can even build up a higher density as the duration increases. The Mid series can achieve the same or greater point density as conventional 32-line LiDAR sensors.

With this level of 3D sensing capability, Livox has optimized the hardware and mechanical design, so that a compact body of Mid sensors enables users to easily embed units into existing designs.

Reliable and Safe

All Livox LiDAR sensors are individually and thoroughly tested and are proved to work in a variety of environments. Every single unit has a false detection rate of less than one ten-thousandth, even in the 100 klx sunlight condition^[3]. Each sensor’s laser power meets the requirements for a Class 1 laser product to IEC 60825-1(2014) and is safe for human eyes^[4]. The Mid-40/Mid-100 operate in temperatures between -4 degrees F and 149 degrees F (-20 degrees C to 65 degrees C) and always reliably output point cloud data for objects with different reflectivity. Livox LiDAR does not use any moving electronic components, thus avoiding challenges such as slip ring failures, a common problem in conventional, rotating LiDAR units. Livox has also optimized the optoelectronic system, including software, firmware, and algorithms, enhancing environmental adaption in a wide variety of conditions including rain, smoke, and fog.

Livox Horizon and Tele-15

Beside Mid-40/Mid-100 sensors, Livox is currently working on extending its product portfolio with two additional LiDAR sensors, the Horizon and Tele-15.

The Livox Horizon is a high-performance LiDAR which offers a broader FOV with much higher coverage ratio while retaining all the key advantages of the Mid-40, such as long detection range, high precision, and a compact size. Compared with the Mid-40, the Horizon has a similar measuring range, but features a more-rectangular-shaped FOV that is 81.7 degrees horizontal and 25.1 degrees vertical, highly suitable for autonomous driving applications. The Horizon also delivers real-time point cloud data that is three times denser than the Mid series LiDAR sensors.

Made for advanced long-distance detection, the Livox Tele-15 offers the compact size, high-precision, and durability of the Mid-40 while vastly extending the real-time mapping range. This allows users to detect and avoid obstacles well in advance when moving at higher speeds.

As for the Tele-15, it features an ultra-long measuring range of 500 meters when reflectivity is at 80%. Even with 20% reflectivity, the measuring range is still up to 250 meters. In addition, the Tele-15 has a circular FOV of 15 degrees and delivers a point cloud that is 17 times denser than the Mid-40. These key features enable the Tele-15 to see objects far ahead with great details.

Livox Hub

The Livox Hub is a streamlined way to integrate and manage Livox LiDAR sensors and their data outputs. When using Livox Hub with our LiDAR SDK, you will have unified access to software and hardware, making the development process simplified and efficient. The Livox Hub can access up to 9 LiDAR sensors simultaneously and supports an input range of 10-23V.

Livox SDK

To release the unlimited potential of LiDAR, Livox SDK offers a wide range of essential tools that help users develop unique applications and algorithms. The Livox SDK supports various development platforms, such as C and C++ in Linux/Windows/ROS and applies to all existing products such as Livox Mid-40, Mid-100, Horizon, Tele-15, Hub.