Panasonic's new 3D LiDAR enables variable detection settings for viewing angles and scanning speed. The new product contributes to the use of autonomous robots that navigate inside or outside facilities with moving objects, including people.

A 3D Lidar is a sensor equipment that measures distance between the equipment and the object from the round-trip travelling time of the pulse laser that is projected to the object.

Employing Panasonic's laser-scanning technology, this 3D LiDAR is capable of scanning the laser as wide as up to 60 degrees vertically and 270 degrees horizontally to achieve stable operation of autonomous robots.

Existing 3D LiDARs cannot detect objects around them with wide view angles especially for the vertical direction. Panasonic developed the laser-scanning technologies utilizing its proprietary design of optical system and motor controlling technology to move the mirror that have been developed for the mass production of optical disk drives. The 3D LiDAR employs a single laser and moving mirror for the detection. Laser light travels the same optical path in the Panasonic's original optical system. The mirror moves toward two different directions by two motors. The single-path design and wide angle of the mirror-move enable wide view angles with 60 degrees in vertical and 270 degrees in horizontal directions. The 3D LiDAR does not require any additional sensors for the detection of the objects around including those on the ground, which makes the detection system in autonomous robots very simple.

Autonomous robots are required to detect the objects in the specified area. For example, autonomous robots do not need to sense the objects in details when they move on flat surface with less objects in the area. The object detection sensor can be scanned at relatively high speed according to the robot's speed. On the other hand, in an area with many moving people or objects, it requires high sensing technologies with a wide angle of view. Furthermore, the sensor needs to examine the details of the object's surface that has been detected. Panasonic's new 3D LiDAR can vary the detection settings thanks to its laser-scanning technologies employed. Stable and time-effective operations of autonomous robots can be achieved by choosing the most suitable detection settings depending on the conditions of the areas where they will be used.

Autonomous robots also require the accuracy in detectiing objects under strong sunlight. By making the return light follow the same path as the emitted laser, Panasonic has successfully reduced the noise induced by bright sunlight. As a result, the newly developed 3D LiDAR can be operated with high accuracy even under the light intensity of 100,000 lux that corresponds to strong sunlight in summer-time.

Panasonic will start sample shipments in January 2018, and will exhibit the 3D LiDAR at "CEATEC JAPAN 2017" at Makuhari Messe, Chiba, Japan, from October 3 to 6, 2017

Basic specifications of Panasonic's 3D LiDAR：

• Scanning angle: 270 degrees in horizontal and 0 to 60 degrees in vertical direction (variable)
• Resolution in vertical angles: Can be chosen from three modes of 1.5 degrees, 3.0 degrees and 7.5 degrees.
• Detectable distance: 0.5 m to 50 m
• Frame rate: 5 fps to 25 fps
• Ambient light immunity: Up to 100,000 lux (under sunlight)
• Outside dimensions: 130 mm (H) x 120 mm (W) x 140 mm (D)