Computer Shopper - UK (2020-10)

ISSUE392|COMPUTER SHOPPER|OCTOBER

WHATISLIDAR?

LiDAR, which stands for light detection and
ranging, is alaser-scanning system that dates
back to the 1960s. Capable of accurately
measuring your immediateenvironment, it
works by emitting alow-power laser light at a
target before recording the time it takes to
bounce back. This technique calculates the
span between the sensor and the object to
pinpoint the position of surrounding items.
It’s used to measure distances and create3D
maps, and will prove crucial in the next wave
of augmented-reality (AR) apps.

HOWISITUSED?
When LiDAR was devised, meteorologists at
the US National Center forAtmospheric
Research used it to measure clouds by
transmitting near-infrared laser beams from
the bottom of aeroplanes. It has also been
put to work creating topological maps and
measuring water depth, and it’s had some
high-profile successes such as mapping the
Moon during the Apollo 15 mission in 1971.
Researchers have also used LiDAR to map
hidden Mayancities and discover Romansettlements by studying
topographical maps and removing buildings and vegetation from the
data to get aclearer picture of the shape of the land.

WHYAREWETALKINGABOUTLIDARNOW?
LiDAR has come to the fore recently thanks to the latest Apple iPad Pro
(see our review,page 39), which comes with abuilt-in LiDAR scanner in
its 11in and 12.9in models. The tablet’s depth sensors can measure the
distance to surrounding objects located up to fivemetres away, Apple
says, and the scanner operates at the photon level at nano-second
speeds. Computer vision algorithms enhance the details of arecorded
scene,allowing forthe fast and accurategeneration of a3Dmodel.

WILLITBEUSEDINPHONES?
It’s likely that Apple will include the LiDAR scanner in the iPhone 12,
which should be released later this year.Aswith
the new iPad Pro,the technology will go beyond
the depth sensors that are currently in the
smartphones and put them on apar with the
professional mapping systems. The LiDAR
system also improves Apple’s existing Measure
app,which uses AR to turn an iPad or iPhone
intoatapemeasure,tomake calculating height,
depth and length much easier and farmore accurate.

WILLANDROIDDEVICESHAVELIDAR?
Some higher-end Android devices such as the Samsung Galaxy Note
10+ use asimilar system called Time-of-Flight, in the guise of a
DepthVision Lens. This type of camerauses infrared light to measure
the distance from the handset to any objects it can view.But it only
uses asinglewidepulse of light, whereasApple’s LiDAR scanner uses
multiple beams forgreater accuracy.This makes Apple’s approach
more suitable foradvanced AR, but the Android system works well in
adding depth to portrait photos, creating 3D images and background
blurring using the right software.

WHYDOWENEEDLIDAR?

We can certainly expect to see more fluid AR games soon, as well as

apps that allow you to visualise how aroomwill look with particular

furniture in it, such as in the Studio Mode of the IKEA Place app.Itwill

be possible to get speedy measurements and create2Dfloorplans,

alongside 3D recreations of aroom. Apple has also highlighted an app

called CompleteAnatomy,which allows physiotherapists to measure

the progress of their patients.

WILLOTHERCONSUMERTECHINCLUDELIDAR?

Most likely.Autonomous vehicle makers have been experimenting

with the technology to see how effective it can be forobstacle

detection and avoidance.Bygaining a360-degree view of the

surroundings using adevice on topofthe vehicle,self-driving cars

can record the many thousands of laserpulsesbeing emitted and

reflected back as theytrundle down the road.

This builds intoa3D representation of the

various points in rapid time,increasing safety

and allowing the vehicle to carry out crucial

moves such as braking or stopping when

danger is sensed.

COULDLIDARHELPUSSOCIALDISTANCE?

It’s not easy to stayone or two metres apart from other people,not

leastbecause when you’re out and about, you have to estimatethe

distance while trying to keep safe(and alert). It will come as no

surprise to learn, then, that some technology companies are in the

process of figuring outwaystohelp,including Quanergy,which is

looking at acombination of LiDAR and AI perception software to

“anonymously track people flows” while measuring the distance

between individuals.

The technology has been incorporated intoasystem called

SafeDistance by motion analytics company iinside.Sensors placed

within avenue capture the necessary data and alerts are triggered

when there is the potential forovercrowding.

LiDAR

Augmentedrealitymovestoadifferentlevelfromsillyphoto filtersinthenewiPad

The iPad’s depth sensors

can measurethe distanceto

objects up to fivemetresaway

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