Sony FCB camera block
In cutting-edge fields such as drone obstacle avoidance, robot navigation, and autonomous driving, traditional liDAR is often limited due to its large size, insufficient precision, or poor adaptability to complex scenarios. In 2025, SONY launched the world’s smallest and lightest dToF liDAR, the AS-DT1. With a body size of 29mm×29mm×31mm and a weight of 50 grams, it combines ± 5-centimeter-level ranging accuracy and an ultra-long indoor/outdoor perception range of 40 meters, redefining the industrial-grade 3D perception standard and becoming the “perception hub” for the intelligent upgrade of multiple industries.
I. Technological Breakthrough: The “Black Technology” Behind Millimeter-level Precision
The core competitiveness of SONY AS-DT1 stems from SONY’s profound accumulation in the fields of optics and semiconductors:
1.dToF+SPAD: A Revolution in Single-Photon Level Detection
By adopting Direct time-of-flight (dToF) technology, precise ranging is achieved by measuring the round-trip time of laser pulses. Combined with SONY’s independently developed single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) sensor, it can capture the weak reflection signal of a single photon. This combination enables SONY’s AS-DT1 to identify the “blind spots” of traditional liDars – whether it’s dark pipes, transparent glass, or suspended cables – generating high-density point cloud data with a ranging error controlled within ±5 centimeters.
2.Anti-interference dual-mode design: Stable operation all day long
The 940nm near-infrared band: This near-infrared band of SONY AS-DT1 can avoid strong interference in sunlight (such AS water surface reflection and glass glare), and still maintain a 20-meter ranging capability under 100,000 lux of strong light.
Automatic Gain Control (AGC) : Dynamically adjust the laser emission power to prevent saturation of strong light or loss of weak light signals, ensuring full-scene coverage from underground parking lots to desert highways.
Three-dimensional point cloud layering: Penetrating complex environments
The 24×24 array of SONY AS-DT1 achieves 576 ranging points per second, which can distinguish between shelf partitions and suspended packages, AS well as the ground and low obstacles, preventing warehouse robots from mistakenly grasping or colliding. In retail scenarios, its dynamic target filtering algorithm can eliminate the interference of pedestrian movement and lock the stable distance between goods and fixed facilities.
Ii. Scene Innovation: From Drones to infrastructure, Empowering thousands of industries
The lightweight design (50 grams) and high performance of SONY AS-DT1 make it an ideal choice for load-sensitive platforms such AS drones, robots, and autonomous driving.
1. Drones: SONY AS-DT1 can help drones effectively avoid obstacles and fly safely
Power inspection: SONY AS-DT1 can help drones effectively detect suspended foreign objects on high-voltage lines, preventing discharge accidents.
Agricultural plant protection: Under strong light, SONY AS-DT1 accurately senses the row spacing of crops, enabling variable fertilization and reducing pesticide waste.
Emergency rescue: SONY AS-DT1 can assist drones in penetrating the interference of hot air currents and locating trapped people in the thick smoke of a fire.
2. Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) : Centimeter-level navigation, zero-contact obstacle avoidance
Warehousing and logistics: SONY AS-DT1 can build a three-dimensional shelf map in real time, sense black packaging boxes and empty storage locations, and improve inventory checking efficiency.
Medical delivery: Penetrate the glass door and transparent partition to precisely deliver the medicine to the isolation ward.
Restaurant service: SONY AS-DT1 senses suspended tables and chairs and dynamic pedestrians to achieve “collision-free” food delivery.
3. Infrastructure inspection: Non-contact detection, reducing manual risks
Bridge inspection: SONY AS-DT1 can assist in detecting cracks and seepage points, with a data accuracy of ±5 centimeters, replacing manual suspension operations.
Highways: SONY AS-DT1 detects worn markings and potholes on the road surface, enabling autonomous vehicles to change lanes in advance.
Dam monitoring: SONY AS-DT1 continuously senses steel structure nodes and warns of collapse risks through deformation comparison.
4. Autonomous Driving and Vehicle-Road Coordination: The “Transparent Eye” in Tunnels
In the strong light transition area at the tunnel entrance, the SONY AS-DT1 can identify discarded transparent mineral water bottles and trigger emergency braking to shorten the distance.
After the integration of roadside units, the length of vehicle queues at intersections and the intentions of pedestrians crossing the street can be monitored in real time, the timing of traffic lights can be optimized, and urban congestion can be alleviated.
Iii. Industry Impact: The Evolution of Perception from “Tool” to “Hub”
The launch of SONY’s AS-DT1 marks the leap of lidar from a single ranging tool to an intelligent perception hub:
The ultimate balance between space and weight: A 50-gram weight can be seamlessly integrated into platforms such as rotorcraft drones and micro-robots, extending the device’s battery life.
Low-altitude economic infrastructure: It provides high-precision obstacle avoidance capabilities for logistics drones and mapping drones, promoting the implementation of urban air mobility (UAM).
Solutions to social problems: To address the shortage of human resources and the aging of infrastructure, reduce high-risk manual operations through robot inspections and enhance labor safety levels.
Iv. Future Outlook: To be launched in the spring of 2026, leading the perception revolution
Although SONY’s AS-DT1 has not yet entered mass production, its prototype has already caused a stir in the industry at events such AS the 2025 Shenzhen International Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Exhibition and the Exponential Exhibition in the United States. AS the spring 2026 launch approaches, SONY is working with global partners to promote the large-scale production of SPAD sensors and optimize quantum dot optical coating technology. In the future, it will further reduce production costs and promote the popularization of AS-DT1 in consumer drones, smart home and other fields.
Conclusion
From drone obstacle avoidance to autonomous driving navigation, from warehouse robots to infrastructure inspection, SONY’s AS-DT1 Lidar is reshaping the perception dimensions of multiple industries with “millimeter-level precision”. This “world’s smallest and lightest” perception center not only equips devices with “intelligent eyes”, but also opens a new chapter of full-scenario digitalization of intelligent systems. In 2026, let’s look forward to the perception revolution led by SONY AS-DT1 together!