Automotive LIDAR

Abstract

Light detection and ranging (LIDAR) is an optical measurement principle to localize and measure the distance of objects in space. Basically, it is similar to a radar system, but instead of using microwaves LIDAR uses ultraviolet, infrared, or beams within the visible light spectrum. Besides distance measurements, which is the basic task, LIDAR sensors can be used for a limited visual detection of objects by analyzing the light intensity, visibility measurement by analyzing the shape of the reflected LIDAR pulse, day/night detection as background illumination is significantly different between day and night, pollution detection, and speed estimation. As several research vehicles for autonomous driving vehicles, e.g., Google car, use LIDAR as basic sensor technology for scanning the environment, there is an increase in development activities for LIDAR sensors meeting automotive requirements (cost, performance, reliability).

Parking assistance systems are systems that support the driver in the parking maneuver. This is achieved either by providing distance information to relevant obstacles, camera images, or additionally by steering assistance. For the different system configurations, requirements regarding sensors, signal processing, HMI, and interfaces to the vehicle network need to be met. While first parking systems only provided informations to the driver, recent systems provide lateral steering support and current plus next-generation parking systems will take more and more both lateral and longitudinal control of the vehicle during the parking manoeuver. In the near future, valet parking systems will be available where the system searches for a suitable parking slot and performs the entire parking process automatically.