Abstract: The present disclosure provides a multi-beam LiDAR system. The multi-beam LiDAR system includes a transmitter having an array of laser emitters. Each laser emitter is configured to emit a laser beam. The multi-beam LiDAR system also includes a receiver having an array of photodetectors. Each photodetector is configured to receive at least one return beam that is reflected by an object from one of the laser beams. The laser emitter array includes a plurality of laser emitter boards perpendicular to a horizontal plane. Each laser emitter board has a plurality of laser emitters. The plurality of laser emitters in the laser emitter array are staggered along a vertical direction. The photodetector array includes a plurality of columns of photodetectors. One of the laser emitter boards corresponds to one column of photodetectors.

Abstract: A method of measuring air data of an aircraft is provided. The method includes emitting, by a laser disposed on the aircraft, laser light into air outside the aircraft, the laser tuned to induce a laser-induced plasma channel (LIPC) in the air. The method also includes sensing, by a sensor system disposed on the aircraft, at least one property of the LIPC. The method further includes computing, by a computing device disposed on the aircraft, the air data of the aircraft based on the at least one property of the LIPC.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing dynamically adjusted radiated signals are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of detecting one or more objects in a path of travel of a vehicle may include generating a laser with radiated power. The method may further include emitting the laser in a direction of travel of the vehicle and receiving one or more reflections of the emitted laser reflected from the one or more objects located in the direction of travel of the vehicle. The method may also further include generating a signal indicating that the one or more objects are in a path of the vehicle based on the received one or more reflections. The method may also include dynamically adjusting the radiated power of the laser based on an input corresponding to one or more of (i) a current speed of the vehicle or (ii) a current position of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method is provided that involves mounting a transmit block and a receive block in a LIDAR device to provide a relative position between the transmit block and the receive block. The method also involves locating a camera at a given position at which the camera can image light beams emitted by the transmit block and can image the receive block. The method also involves obtaining, using the camera, a first image indicative of light source positions of one or more light sources in the transmit block and a second image indicative of detector positions of one or more detectors in the receive block. The method also involves determining at least one offset based on the first image and the second image. The method also involves adjusting the relative position between the transmit block and the receive block based at least in part on the at least one offset.

Abstract: A method for measuring and registering 3D coordinates has a 3D scanner measure a first collection of 3D coordinates of points from a first registration position. A 2D scanner collects horizontal 2D scan sets as 3D measuring device moves from first to second registration positions. A processor determines first and second translation values and a first rotation value based on collected 2D scan sets. 3D scanner measures a second collection of 3D coordinates of points from second registration position. Processor adjusts second collection of points relative to first collection of points based at least in part on first and second translation values and first rotation value. Processor identifies a correspondence among registration targets in first and second collection of 3D coordinates, and uses this correspondence to further adjust the relative position and orientation of first and second collection of 3D coordinates.

Abstract: In a method and system for scanning a structure, a structure scanner may acquire multiple scans of a surface of a structure. Each of the scans may correspond to different portions of the surface. The property inspection system may generate a 3D model of the surface using the scans. To account for potential changes in position and/or orientation of the structure scanner between scans, the structure scanner may self-calibrate using a fiducial marker. By correcting for changes in position and orientation over time, the structure scanner may accurately map the scans of the different portions of the surface to a 3D model of the surface.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging device associated with an autonomous vehicle scans through a scanning zone while emitting light pulses and receives reflected signals corresponding to the light pulses. The reflected signals indicate a three-dimensional point map of the distribution of reflective points in the scanning zone. A hyperspectral sensor images a region of the scanning zone corresponding to a reflective feature indicated by the three-dimensional point map. The output from the hyperspectral sensor includes spectral information characterizing a spectral distribution of radiation received from the reflective feature. The spectral characteristics of the reflective feature allow for distinguishing solid objects from non-solid reflective features, and a map of solid objects is provided to inform real time navigation decisions.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes an optical transmitter comprising a plurality of lasers, where each of the plurality of lasers illuminates a field-of-view. A transmitter controller is configured to pulse desired ones of the plurality of lasers so that the plurality of lasers generate light in a desired illumination region. An optical receiver comprises a plurality of detectors positioned to detect light over the desired illumination region. The plurality of detectors generates an electrical detection signal. A time-of-flight measurement circuit measures the time-of-flight of light from the plurality of lasers to the plurality of detectors. The optical receiver calculates range information from the time-of-flight measurements. A receiver controller is electrically connected to the transmitter controller and is configured to bias at least some of the plurality of detectors at a bias point that achieves a desired detection signal noise level.

Abstract: [Object] To appropriately evaluate reliability of a reception signal. [Solving Means] A signal processing unit 20 includes a first integration unit 21, a Doppler detection unit 22, and a comparator circuit 28 as a reliability index calculation unit. The first integration unit 21 intermittently integrates a pulse train corresponding to a reception signal by using two systems and obtains two pieces of integrated data. The Doppler detection unit 22 divides each of the two pieces of integrated data into a plurality of range bins in time series, obtains a relationship between a frequency and intensity in each range bin for each of the two pieces of integrated data, and detects a Doppler shift amount from the relationship. The comparator circuit 28 calculates a reliability index of the reception signal by comparing the Doppler shift amounts (wind velocity values) of the two pieces of integrated data.

Abstract: A time-of-flight camera includes a light emitter, a photo detector, and a controller. The time-of-flight camera may determine depth motion of an object by emitting light pulses, receiving reflected light pulses from the object, and accumulating a plurality of charges based on the reflected light pulses. The depth motion may be determined by the controller through analysis of the accumulated charges.

Abstract: A sensor for monitoring a monitoring area having a transmitter for transmitting radiation into the monitoring area for reflection at an object in the monitoring area, a test transmitter for transmitting a test signal comprising radiation, a receiver for receiving the radiation of the transmitter that is reflected at the object or the radiation of the test transmitter, and an evaluation device for ascertaining a distance value on the basis of the delay in the transit time or the phase of a modulation between the transmitted and received radiation of the sensor. The sensor further comprises a memory for storing an expectation value for the expected distance value of the received test signal, and a comparison device for comparing a distance value on the basis of the received test signal with the expectation value and for outputting a safety signal on the basis of the comparison.

Abstract: A system includes at least one earpiece wherein each earpiece comprises an earpiece housing, a light source operatively connected to each earpiece housing and configured to transmit substantially coherent light toward an outer surface of a user's body, a light receiver operatively connected to the earpiece housing proximate to the light source and configured to receive reflected light from the outer surface of the user's body, and one or more processors disposed within the earpiece housing and operatively connected to the light source and light receiver, wherein one or more processors is configured to determine bone vibration measurements from the reflected light. A method of determining bone vibrations includes providing at least one earpiece, transmitting substantially coherent light toward an outer surface of a user's body using the earpiece, receiving reflected light from the outer surface of the user's body using the earpiece, and determining bone vibration measurements using the earpiece.

Abstract: An automatically calibrated vision system includes: a vision calibration system; a first sensor system that receives first data of a scene captured by a first sensor on a movable machine and outputs a first map based on the first data; a second sensor system that receives second data of the scene captured by a second sensor on the movable machine and outputs a second map based on the second data. The vision calibration system computes calibration data based on the first and second maps, supplies the calibration data to the first sensor system and/or the second sensor system for automatic calibration of the first sensor system and/or the second sensor system, and outputs, to a controller of the movable machine, a calibrated depth map comprised of depth measurements calibrated using the calibration data. The first sensor system and/or the second sensor system automatically perform(s) a self-calibration using the calibration data.

Abstract: A measurement instrument is disclosed. The measurement instrument comprises a front lens assembly, a distance measurement module and a deflection module. The front lens assembly comprises an optical path along an instrument optical axis and the distance measurement module is configured to transmit and receive optical radiation along a measurement path. The deflection module is arranged between the distance measurement module and the front lens assembly to deflect the measurement path across the instrument optical axis.

Abstract: A computing system may operate a LIDAR device to emit light pulses in accordance with a time sequence including a time-varying dither. The system may then determine that the LIDAR detected return light pulses during corresponding detection periods for each of two or more emitted light pulses. Responsively, the system may determine that the detected return light pulses have (i) detection times relative to corresponding emission times of a plurality of first emitted light pulses that are indicative of a first set of ranges and (ii) detection times relative to corresponding emission times of a plurality of second emitted light pulses that are indicative of a second set of ranges. Given this, the system may select between using the first set of ranges as a basis for object detection and using the second set of ranges as a basis for object detection, and may then engage in object detection accordingly.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a LIDAR device of an autonomous driving vehicle (ADV) includes an array of light emitters to emit a number of light beams to sense a physical range associated with a target. The LIDAR device further includes a slope mirror having a slope surface and a flat surface supported by a rotatable platform. The rotatable platform is configured to rotate with respect to a vertical axis perpendicular to the flat surface. The light emitters are configured to project the light beams onto the slope surface of the slope mirror, which are deflected towards the target. The slope mirror rotates along with the rotatable platform while the array of light emitters remains steady. The LIDAR device further includes one or more light detectors to receive at least a portion of the light beams reflected from the target.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a LiDAR assembly. The LiDAR assembly includes a central LiDAR device configured to detect an object at or beyond a first predetermined distance from the LiDAR system and an even number of multiple auxiliary LiDAR devices configured to detect an object at or within a second predetermined distance from the LiDAR system. The LiDAR assembly also includes a mounting apparatus configured to mount the central and auxiliary LiDAR devices. Each of the central and auxiliary LiDAR devices is mounted to the mounting apparatus via a mounting surface. A first mounting surface between the central LiDAR device and the mounting apparatus has an angle with a second mounting surface between one of the auxiliary LiDAR devices and the mounting apparatus.

Abstract: A method of lidar system operation, preferably including: determining a signal, outputting the signal, receiving a return signal, and/or analyzing the return signal. A lidar system, preferably including one or more: optical emitters, optical detectors, beam directors, and/or processing modules. A class of spectrally decimated encodings, wherein multiple codes of this class, all preferably mutually spectrally-orthogonal, can be generated based on a single input encoding.

Abstract: A tag for time-of-flight (ToF) applications includes: at least three light sources configured to controllably emit light; a light detector configured to receive one or more modulated light signals from a ToF camera system; and a processing circuit configured to determine one or more time periods in which the ToF camera system is sensitive for light reception and control the at least three light sources to sequentially and individually emit light according to a predefined lighting pattern during the one or more time periods. Corresponding apparatuses and methods for determining rotation and/or translation parameters for conversion between different coordinate systems are also provided.

Abstract: A multi-wavelength LIDAR system includes a first laser source that generates a first optical beam having a first wavelength and a second laser source that generates a second optical beam having a second wavelength. An optical element projects the first optical beam to form a first beam profile at a target plane and projects the second optical beam to form a second beam profile at the target plane. An optical receiver generates a first wavelength signal corresponding to the received reflected portion of the first beam profile and generates a second wavelength signal corresponding to the reflected portion of the second beam profile at the target plane. A controller generates a measurement point cloud from the first and second wavelength signals, wherein an angular resolution of the measurement point cloud depends on a relative position of the first and second beam profiles at the target plane.