First Camera-Lidar Fusion Sensor, by Kyocera
Kyocera Corporation announced the development of its unique Camera-LIDAR Fusion Sensor, the world’s first*1 LIDAR that aligns the optical axes of the camera and LIDAR into a single sensor. This unique…
Kyocera Corporation announced the development of its unique Camera-LIDAR Fusion Sensor, the world’s first*1 LIDAR that aligns the optical axes of the camera and LIDAR into a single sensor. This unique design allows for the real-time acquisition of parallax-free superimposed data, a feat that was previously unattainable. It also features the world’s highest*2 laser irradiation density as a LIDAR sensor, enabling long-distance and high-precision object detection.
LIDAR is expected to be essential to the commercialization of autonomous driving. It provides instant acquisition of long-range, highly accurate 3D information, enabling the detection of obstacles in complex environments and during high-speed movement with unparalleled accuracy. It offers excellent spatial recognition, identifying the distance to an object and its size from the time and angle of the reflected light bouncing back from a laser beam over a wide area. Typically, LIDAR is used with cameras to more accurately identify objects but parallax in the data from the separate units often caused delays from calibration between the sensors. Kyocera’s new Camera-LIDAR Fusion Sensor integrates the camera and high-resolution LIDAR in a single unit for parallax-free, real-time data integration, ensuring efficient and accurate results.
*1 In the development of a sensor in which the optical axes of the camera and LIDAR are aligned and integrated into a single unit; October 2024, based on Kyocera research.
*2 At the irradiation densities of LIDAR currently announced for commercialization, October 2024, based on Kyocera research.
Key Features
Camera and LIDAR integration for most accurate object recognition
Using its unique optical design technology, Kyocera is the first to integrate the camera and LIDAR into a single unit with aligned optical axes. This enables the real-time integration of camera image data and LIDAR distance data for the most advanced object recognition to date.
High Resolution with World’s Highest2 Laser Irradiation Density
LIDAR can recognize small obstacles over long distances by increasing the density of laser beams emitted, thereby improving resolution and accuracy. Kyocera’s innovative sensor has an irradiation density of 0.045 degrees, which utilizes the Company’s proprietary laser scan unit technology from MFPs and printers, making it possible to detect a 30cm falling object at a distance of 100m.
High Durability with Proprietary MEMS Mirror
In LIDAR, a MEMS mirror or motor is required to irradiate laser light over a wide and high-density area. However, MEMS mirrors typically have lower resolution and motors tend to wear out quickly. Kyocera’s new integrated sensor provides both higher resolution than motor-based systems and greater durability than conventional MEMS mirrors. A proprietary MEMS mirror, developed with Kyocera’s advanced manufacturing and ceramic package technologies, and high-resolution laser scanning technology, support high-precision sensing for various industries including autonomous vehicles, marine/ships, heavy machinery, and more.
