Blogs

[Updated with more info] Glad to see that the Pulsed Light team, which joined Garmin earlier this year, are back with a new version of the Lidar Light range finder. Not many details yet, but it's now listed for $150 at Sparkfun:

• Description: It’s back! This is the LIDAR-Lite v3, a compact, high-performance optical distance measurement sensor from Garmin™. When space and weight requirements are tight, the LIDAR-Lite v3 soars. The LIDAR-Lite v3 is the ideal solution for drone, robot or unmanned vehicle applications.

  This easy-to-use 40-meter laser-based optical ranging sensor has all the core features that made the LIDAR-Lite v2 so popular. Small in form and light in weight with low power consumption of less than 130mA during an acquisition. And it’s user-configurable so you can adjust between accuracy, operating range and measurement time.

  Each LIDAR-Lite v3 features an edge-emitting, 905nm (1.3 watts), single-stripe laser transmitter, 4m Radian x 2m Radian beam divergence, and an optical aperture of 12.5mm. The third version of the LIDAR-Lite still operates at 5V DC with a current consumption rate of <100mA at continuous operation. On top of everything else, the LIDAR-Lite is user-configurable, allowing adjustment between accuracy, operating range and measurement time. It can be interfaced via I2C or PWM.

  Note: The LIDAR-Lite v3 is available for pre-order. We expect to have these in stock and shipping by early to mid-October. Adding a pre-order product to an order may cause a delay. Be sure to uncheck “ship complete order” in your cart to avoid delays in shipping in-stock items.

  Dimensions: 20 x 48 x 40 mm (0.8 x 1.9 x 1.6 inches)

  Features:

  • Range: 0-40m Laser Emitter
  • Accuracy: +/- 2.5cm at distances greater than 1m
  • Power: 4.75–5V DC; 6V Max
  • Current Consumption: 105ma idle; 130ma continuous
  • Rep Rate: 1–500Hz
  • Laser Wave Length/Peak Power: 905nm/1.3 watts
  • Beam Divergence: 4m Radian x 2m Radian
  • Optical Aperture: 12.5mm
  • Interface: I2C or PWM