Design and evaluation of a solid-state LiDAR system : for wireless distance measurements

Abstract: The advent of smarter vehicles coupled with declining costs for solid-state light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensors unlocks the potential of cheaper devices that experience less mechanical wear while providing smaller form factors. The early state of the market makes evaluating the limited supply of available sensors interesting. This thesis investigated the possibility of creating a wireless distance measurement system, at relatively low cost, using a commercially available solid-state LiDAR sensor. A complete prototype was designed using a LeddarTech VU8 sensor. The system was fully integrated with a power supply PCB and a 3D printed enclosure. Distance data could be wirelessly transferred via Bluetooth using a Raspberry Pi 4 B. A graphical user interface (GUI) was developed to display distance data and to interact with the system in real-time. The system intends to provide a foundation for future work.