LiDAR

LiDAR sends out laser pulses and measures how long they take to bounce back. The result is a precise outline of walls, shelves and people, in light or in total darkness. It is the main sensor behind most mapping and obstacle avoidance on delivery, security and cleaning robots.

Check the range, the field of view and whether it is 2D or 3D. A 2D unit sees one slice at a fixed height, so a table top above that slice can be missed. Glass and mirrors can also confuse it, which is why many robots add cameras or ToF sensors.