Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) is a remote sensing and measuring technique that uses a laser to measure the distance to a target and observes the reflected light. Different surfaces will yield different reflected wavelengths and time-of-flight responses which can be used to create a 3-D representation of the observed area. Due to the precision of laser technology, LiDAR maps are high-resolution and very accurate. LiDAR technology is used in self-driving cars and in certain archaeological digs where the site is above-ground or has been dug out. Leading companies in the LiDAR field include Velodyne, Aptiv, AEye, Innoviz, and Luminar.
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Paper: Laser radar: historical prospective – from East to West