ladar

[′lā‚där]

(optics)

A missile-tracking system that uses a visible light beam in place of a microwave radar beam to obtain measurements of speed, altitude, direction, and range of missiles. Derived from laser detecting and ranging. Also known as colidar; laser radar.

LIDAR

(LIght Detection And Ranging) An optical technology that is used to sense the shape, motion and makeup of objects in the environment. LIDAR is used in a wide variety of disciplines, including airborne mapping, measuring atmospheric conditions and self-driving cars. LIDAR works by pulsing laser signals using all light ranges (ultraviolet, visible, infrared) and amplifying the light that is scattered back through an optical telescope and photomultiplier tube. A 3D map is generated of the surroundings. Sometimes called "laser radar," LIDAR uses light waves and not "radio" waves. See self-driving car.

LIDAR vs. Radar
In today's cars with advanced safety systems, radar may be used to determine the distance to the next vehicle on the road, and LIDAR can also be used for this purpose. However, because LIDAR emits nanometer waves rather than radar's millimeter waves, LIDAR provides greater granularity. The computer can analyze the returning LIDAR signals and differentiate between objects such as a pedestrian, bicycle or deer and make a decision accordingly. See radar.

LIDAR in the iPhone
For improved photos in 2020, the iPhone 12 Pro models added a LIDAR sensor to better sense the depth of the image. See iPhone 12.

LIDAR in a Self-Driving Car

LIDAR can be used to sense objects in front, back and on the sides of a vehicle. (Image courtesy of Phantom Intelligence, www.phantomintelligence.com)

Temi Moves on Its Own

The LIDAR module (red arrow) on the Temi personal robot is used to detect objects as it moves around the house. (Image courtesy of Temi, www.robotemi.com)

Copyright © 1981-2025 by The Computer Language Company Inc. All Rights reserved. THIS DEFINITION IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY. All other reproduction is strictly prohibited without permission from the publisher.

Mentioned in

References in periodicals archive

If a real-world lift truck veteran like Dave Griffith expects telemetry to become a standard safety feature on lift trucks, I sense that we won't have to wait much longer after that for interfaces to LADAR and LIDAR systems.

From special to standard

"As you fly over the area you can generate your own map using the ladar and feed that into the system."

Humanoid soldiers: reverse engineering the brain may accelerate robotics research

For the LADAR, CAN data interface was chosen (instead of a RS-232 which is the standard interface), because it enables high grabbing speed, up to 1 MBit/s, and it can be easily connected via low cost CAN to USB adaptor to an USB port.

Towards accurate, low-cost vision system based on time-of-flight (TOF) laser scanner for mobile robot applications

A hybrid iterative algorithm has also been developed for registering three-dimensional LADAR range images obtained from unmanned aerial and ground vehicles (Madhavan, Hong, and Messina 2004).

Using 4D/RCS to address AI knowledge integration

Active guidance requires that a radar (or LADAR) be located on the weapon itself.

EW threats, Part 2--frequency ranges and guidance approaches

AWASM will feature a laser detection and ranging radar (LADAR) seeker to automatically determine target aim points using demonstrated automatic target acquisition algorithms.

Lockheed Martin awarded $12 m Wide Area Search Munition contract

Ladar, Insult Added to Injury: Extended Fallout from a Federal Conviction, in CRIMINAL TAX FRAUD--1997, supra note 196, at D-25, D-26 ("[Collateral consequences] can affect your negotiations with the prosecutor as to specific charges, charging language and plea agreement conditions."), available at Westlaw N97CTFB ABA-LGLED D-25; see Judson W.

Effective assistance of counsel and the consequences of guilty pleas

* Turbulence sensing laser-rader called ladar, developed with Nasa and USAF can identify areas of temperature differential too subtle for present methods of detection which indicate fields of wind shear in the upper atmosphere.

BONSIGNORE'S BID FOR THE BIG TIME

Ladar Levison, owner of shut-down secure email service Lavabit, has taken up the challenge and is collaborating with the folks at Silent Circle and convicted hacker Stephen Watt to come up with a solution to the problem.

Secure, Private Email, Cloud Storage Alternatives to Gmail, Dropbox