[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
Comments
I got one on October 15 and today I tried it out with my pixfalcon using I2c. I have not seen any 13M offsets and in about 40 minutes of flight with at least 10 min in alt hold or loiter modes no issues arose. I do think I may be having less GPS performance. Longer time to lock and less overall satellites. I need to turn it off and check that it is not some other issue before I can say for sure.
So when is 3DR joining Garmin?
That's why I would expect the problem to be fixed on the manufacturer's end. A simple reboot fixes the problem, which means it's 100% a firmware issue.
The 13m offset problem is solvable in software or with hardware filtering. Super annoying for a product that costs $150 but the sensor is the smallest and lightest on the market for what it does.
Unfortunately Garmin canceled my order this morning.
Has anyone succeeded in purchasing the new version?
Meanwhile the v2 is still absolutely useless. A sensor that "sometimes" adds 13m is not in any way flight capable. I would never every buy a lidar lite again even though it is Garmin now.
I have the version V2. It works great in sunlight. Although sometimes it adds offset of 13 meters.
It is great to recover it. Hope the have fixed the issues with 13m lock and i2c comms.
Does anybody knows the sunlight outdoor performance of this?:
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/8958
I am just interested in about 1m range in order to avoid bumps during landing with turbulence in barometer
FINALLY
Here is a complete copy of the announcement from Garmin which answers the main questions also as in Chris's post above:
Namely 0-500 cycles per second and up to 40 meters and +/- 2.5 cm accuracy and it says it is actually currently available.
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Today we’re excited to announce LIDAR-Lite V3, a new class of optical distance measurement sensor that utilizes a single chip signal processing solution along with minimal hardware.This highly configurable sensor can be used as the basic building block for applications where small size, light weight, low power consumption and high performance are important factors, such as in robotics, unmanned vehicle systems, IoT, industrial sensing and more.
Operating from a 5V DC source with a current draw of <100ma while taking acquisitions, LL V3 can take measurements at up to 500 readings per second. Communicating via I2C or PWM to a user supplied micro-controller, it can measure distance and velocity of targets from 0 up to its maximum range of 40 meters with 1 cm resolution and a +/- 2.5cm accuracy under typical operating conditions. LIDAR-Lite is designated as Class 1 laser eye safe during all procedures of operation.
Lightweight, economical and accurate, LL V3 brings the power of laser based optical ranging and proximity sensing to emerging applications that existing optical technologies are unable to support.
Available now, LIDAR-Lite V3 will have a suggested retail price of $149.99.
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And here is the link directly to the online sales part of Garmin who says processing time is 7 to 10 days.
https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/oem/sensors-and-boards/lidar-lite-v...
Hope they got the bugs out re I2C and GPS interference.
You'd think Garmin of all Companies would insist on zero GPS interference.
Maybe it's a really good thing Garmin bought Pulsed Light.
Best Regards,
Gary
Message from Customer service: Garmin and Pulsed light are currently working on a new and improve version of the Lidare Lite. The newer model, LIDAR-Lite v3, will be using a different chip for the signal processing and interface. This is mostly due to the many issues the previous chip had related to I2C bus handling and other less noticeable problems.
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