Arduino LIDAR
A few things about LiDAR
LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is an optical remote sensing system which
can measure the distance of a target by illuminating it with light. LIDAR
technology is being used in Robotics for the perception of the environment as
well as object classification. The ability of LIDAR technology to provide 2D
elevation maps of the terrain, high precision distance to the ground, and
approach velocity can enable safe landing of robotic and manned vehicles with a
high degree of precision.
LIDAR consists of a transmitter which illuminates a target with a laser beam,
and a receiver capable of detecting the component of light which is essentially
coaxial with the transmitted beam. Receiver sensors calculate a distance, based
on the time needed for the light to reach the target and return. A mechanical
mechanism with a mirror sweeps the light beam to cover the required scene in a
plane or even in three dimensions, using a rotating nodding mirror.
One way to measure the time of flight for the light beam is to use a pulsed laser
and then measure the elapsed time directly. Electronics capable of resolving
picoseconds are required in such devices and they are therefore very expensive.
Another method is to measure the phase shift of the reflected light.
Collimated infrared laser is used to the phase-shift measurement. For surfaces,
having a roughness greater than the wavelength of the incident light, diffuse
reflection will occur. The component of the infrared light will return almost
parallel to the transmitted beam for objects.
The sensor measures the phase shift between the transmitted and reflected
signals. The picture shows how this technique can be used to measure distance.
The wavelength of the modulating signal obeys the equation:
c = f ∙ τ
where c is the speed of light and f the modulating frequency and τ the known
modulating wavelength.
The total distance D' covered by the emitted light is:
D' = B + 2A = B + (θ * τ) / 2π
where A is the measured distance. B is the distance from the phase measurement
unit. The required distance D, between the beam splitter and the target, is
therefore given by
D = τ * θ / 4π
where θ is the electronically measured phase difference between the transmitted
and reflected light beams.
It can be shown that the range is inversely proportional to the square of the
received signal amplitude, directly affecting the sensor’s accuracy.
(copied from http://home.roboticlab.eu/en/examples/sensor/lidar).
As a part of my final year project i need the 2D map of surrounding for my
autonomous vehicle, so i choose LiDAR because it is so fast and accurate. Unlike
sonars that bounce ultrasonic waves, the 'cone' of sensing is very narrow.
VL6180x or Vl53l0x is an optical sensor from STMicroelectronics .VL53L0x is
much more precise and doesn't have linearity problems or 'double imaging'
where you can't tell if an object is very far or very close.
This time of flight sensor is actually used in our mobile phone to adjust the focus
of the camera.
Circuit Diagram
Install Adafruit library
Arduino code
#include <Wire.h>
#include "Adafruit_VL6180X.h"
#include <Servo.h>
Adafruit_VL6180X vl = Adafruit_VL6180X();
Servo myservo;
float pos = 0;
const float Pi = 3.14159;
void setup() {
myservo.attach(9);
Serial.begin(115200);
while (!Serial) {
delay(1);
}
if (! vl.begin()) {
while (1);
}
}
void loop() {
for (pos = 0; pos <= 180; pos += .5) {
myservo.write(pos);
uint8_t range = vl.readRange();
Serial.println(String(range)+"p"+String(pos*Pi/180)+"p"+String(pos));
delay(10);
}
/*for (pos = 180; pos >= 0; pos -= .5) {
myservo.write(pos);
uint8_t range = vl.readRange();
{
Serial.println(String(range)+"p"+String(pos*Pi/180)+"p"+String(pos));
delay(10);
}
}*/
myservo.write(0);
delay(2000);
}
Processing code (refer other radar project if u need good radar interface)
change the Arduino port number (eg "COM 3") before running.
import processing.serial.*;
Serial myPort;
String val;
int range,i=0;float pos;
void setup(){
size(550,500);
String portName = "COMx";//x=your arduino port number
myPort = new Serial(this, portName, 115200);
background(255);
}
void draw(){
if ( myPort.available() > 0) {
val = myPort.readStringUntil('\n');
if(val!=null)
{ String[] nums=split(val,"p");//splitting the recevied data searated by 'p'
if(nums.length==3)
{
range=int(nums[0]); //string to integer conversion
pos=float(nums[1]);
i=int(nums[2]);
if(i==180){
background(255);
}
}
}
}
translate(25,-50);
line(250,500,250-2*(range*cos(pos)),500-2*(range*sin(pos)));
}
The speed of sensor is limited to 10Hz and the response of servo is poor at higher
speed. If any one planning to make high speed LIDAR use stepper motor or DC
motors with feedback system. use slip rings for continuous rotation
(https://www.adafruit.com/product/736).
Any questions, suggestions are welcome!
