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In scenarios such as autonomous driving, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) inspection, and warehousing and logistics, the “single-point ranging” mode of traditional lidar is facing a fatal bottleneck: the echo signals of low-reflectivity objects (such as black plastic and glass curtain walls) are weak, and the point clouds of suspended targets (such as birds in the air and falling objects from heights) are sparse and have strong dynamic interference, leading to frequent missed detecations and misjudgments.
AS the world’s first micro dToF lidar, SONY AS-DT1, with “dense point cloud” technology at its core, has completely overturned the traditional single-point ranging logic and ushered in a new era of high-precision and full-scene perception.
I.The “three major weaknesses” of traditional single-point ranging: accuracy, scenarios, and efficiency are all lost
Traditional lidar relies on single-point pulse reflection for ranging, and its technical flaws are fully exposed in complex scenarios:
1. “Invisibility” of low-reflectivity objects: The echo signal of a single-point laser on objects with low reflectivity (such as asphalt roads and black tires) is extremely weak. Data may be lost just a few meters away, causing self-driving cars to collide with “invisible obstacles”.
2. “Missed detection” of suspended targets: Single-point ranging cannot capture the complete outline of dynamic objects. Drone swarps and falling objects in the air can only obtain scattered points, and the obstacle avoidance system is prone to failure due to insufficient data.
3. Environmental interference “misjudgment” : Strong light and multi-path reflections (such as glass curtain walls) can distort the single-point distance measurement results. Warehouse robots often make path planning errors due to the interference of shelf reflections.
Case study: In a test at a certain logistics warehouse, the recognition rate of black packaging boxes by traditional single-point lidar was insufficient, while the ranging error of suspended shelves remained high, directly leading to an increase in the failure rate of mechanical arm grasping.
Ii. AS-DT1 Point Cloud Images: Three Core Technological Breakthroughs to Build “Holographic Perception”
SONY AS-DT1 upgrades single-point ranging to “point cloud imaging” through dToF+SPAD array + point cloud image technology, achieving a leap from “the blind men touching the elephant” to “seeing the whole picture”.
1. 576 points per frame dense ranging: Low-reflectivity objects “nowhere to hide”
The SONY AS-DT1 is equipped with a 24×24 SPAD single-photon detector array, which can output 576 ranging points per frame, covering an area of 0.576 square meters. Its core advantage lies in:
Weak signal capture: The SPAD sensor can accurately measure distance through the avalanche multiplication effect, even if the object reflects only a very small amount of laser energy (such as black plastic).
Anti-multipath interference: dToF technology directly measures the round-trip time of photons, avoiding the error accumulation of traditional triangulation methods and maintaining an accuracy of ±5 centimeters even in strong light environments (100,000 lux).
Scene application: In warehousing and logistics, AS-DT1 can distinguish the shelf partitions from the suspended packages above, preventing the robotic arm from mistakenly grasping them. In the autonomous driving tunnel test, its point cloud density was higher than that of traditional equipment, successfully identifying obstacles on dark gray roads.
2. Point Cloud Imaging: “Dynamic Tracking” of Suspended Targets
SONY AS-DT1 achieves precise identification and tracking of suspended objects through spatial segmentation algorithms and AI point cloud clustering.
Dynamic target filtering: The inter-frame difference method is adopted to eliminate the instantaneous interference caused by the movement of pedestrians and lock the stable distance between the goods on the shelves and the fixed facilities.
Multi-level data fusion: Built-in deep learning chips perform point cloud clustering, automatically classifying “fixed shelves”, “mobile personnel”, and “suspended packages”, and prioritizing the processing of dynamic obstacle data.
Measured data: In the drone swarm obstacle avoidance test, the recognition rate of SONY AS-DT1 for micro drones with a diameter of 30 centimeters has been significantly improved compared to traditional single-point lasers. In the retail store scenario, its point cloud imaging technology enhances the efficiency of shelf inventory taking.
3. 40-meter long-distance ranging: Infrastructure inspection “One Shot to the End”
SONY’s AS-DT1 breaks through the ranging limit of traditional micro LiDAR, achieving:
Indoor 40-meter coverage: It can fully scan the entire appearance of large warehouses and factories and generate high-precision 3D maps.
Outdoor 20-meter strong light resistance: Utilizing the 940nm near-infrared band, it avoids the interference of the solar spectrum and accurately detects cracks during bridge inspection.
Iii. From “Tool” to “Hub” : The Industrial Revolution of SONY AS-DT1 Point Cloud Images
The point cloud imaging technology of SONY’s AS-DT1 is not only a sensor breakthrough but also redefines the role of lidar in intelligent systems:
Autonomous driving: Deployed in the vehicle’s forward perception system, it accurately identifies pedestrians, vehicles and traffic signs. Its anti-strong light feature ensures the safety of tunnel entry and exit scenarios.
Industrial automation: Provide centimeter-level positioning and navigation for warehouse robots to achieve “zero collision” operations among dense shelves.
Low-altitude economy: Empowering inspection drones to generate point cloud models of Bridges and power lines at an altitude of 40 meters can significantly enhance detection accuracy.
Conclusion: The perception revolution makes the “eye” world of smart devices boundless
While traditional liDars are still struggling with the accuracy and scene adaptability of “single-point ranging”, SONY’s AS-DT1 has built a full-scene perception network covering low-reflectivity objects, suspended targets, and complex lighting environments through point cloud imaging technology. From the “invisible shelves” in warehousing and logistics to the “ghost obstacles” in autonomous driving, from the “millimeter-level cracks” in industrial inspection to the “air corridors” in the low-altitude economy, AS-DT1 is reshaping the boundaries of safety and efficiency in the intelligent world AS the “eye of perception”.