This 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 laser irradiation density as a LIDAR sensor, enabling long-distance and high-precision object detection.
LIDAR is seen as being essential to the commercialisation of autonomous driving as it can provide instant acquisition of long-range, highly accurate 3D information, which enable the detection of obstacles in complex environments and during high-speed movement.
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.
Key features
Camera and LIDAR integration for most accurate object recognition
Using its optical design technology, Kyocera is the first company 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 highest 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 sensor has an irradiation density of 0.045 degrees, which utilises the company’s proprietary laser scan unit technology from MFPs and printers, making it possible to detect a 30 cm falling object at a distance of 100 m.
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.
Customisation options
Kyocera can customise solutions for specific applications from MEMS mirrors to optical systems, electrical circuits, and software.
Kyocera aims to introduce this integrated sensor for automotive applications and various other fields, such as construction machinery, ships, robots, and security systems and is working towards the commercialisation of this device.
