LiDAR: The Revolutionary Sensor Transforming Supply Chain Automation

LiDAR, a remote-sensing method that uses pulsed lasers to measure range, is quickly gaining popularity in supply chain automation. According to Peipei Zhao, president of North America with Robosense, the technology’s ability to sense objects with high accuracy in real time makes it an essential component of autonomous driving systems, robots, and smart-city infrastructures.

The acronym LiDAR stands for light detection and ranging, and it equips devices and vehicles with the ability to sense objects in three dimensions. This technology has found applications across various industries but is particularly useful in logistics and warehouses. From the time goods arrive at the distribution center to when they are stored, picked, packaged, and transported to the consumer, LiDAR can be utilized at every stage of distribution.

One of the significant advantages of LiDAR is its ability to optimize space utilization by allowing facilities to maximize their use of available space. This makes the entire process more efficient and reduces overall shipping costs. Additionally, LiDAR plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety of autonomous robots and lift trucks operating within the facility by linking to an emergency braking system. This technology allows operations to continue without requiring additional illumination while also reducing the risk of accidents caused by these machines colliding with people or structures.

Zhao predicts that LiDAR-equipped devices will become increasingly popular as warehouses seek ways to optimize storage space and increase operational speed while reducing overall shipping costs. As such, this technology is poised to revolutionize supply chain automation and bring about significant improvements in efficiency and safety.

In conclusion, LiDAR is becoming a valuable asset in supply chain automation due to its high accuracy in detecting objects with real-time sensing capabilities. Its applications extend beyond just autonomous driving systems; it can be used at every stage of distribution from receiving goods at a distribution center to storing them before they are picked up for packaging and delivery. With its ability to optimize space utilization while ensuring safety for autonomous robots operating within facilities, this technology represents a significant improvement over previous camera systems.