Comparison of 905 nm and 1550 nm semiconductor laser rangefinders’ performance deterioration due to adverse environmental conditions

Abstract

Laser rangefinder performance (i.e., maximum range) is strongly affected by environment due to visibility-dependent laser attenuation in the atmosphere and target reflectivity variations induced by surface condition changes (dry vs. wet). Both factors have their unique spectral features which means that rangefinders operating at different wavelengths are affected by specific environmental changes in a different way. Current state of the art TOF (time of flight) semiconductor laser rangefinders are based mainly on two wavelengths: 905 nm and 1550 nm, which results from atmospheric transmission windows and availability of high power pulsed sources. The paper discusses the scope of maximum range degradation of hypothetical 0.9 μm and 1.5 μm rangefinders due to selected water-related environmental effects. Atmospheric extinction spectra were adapted from Standard Atmosphere Model and reflectance fingerprints of various materials have been measured. It is not the aim of the paper to determine in general which wavelength is superior for laser range finding, since a number of criteria could be considered, but to verify their susceptibility to adverse environmental conditions.

A Review and Perspective on Optical Phased Array for Automotive LiDAR

“…Various recent studies have investigated the effect of weather on different wavelengths of LiDAR, particularly of rain and fog. The effect on both wavelengths is similar, as at the same optical power there is a small difference (<10%) between the two [71]- [72].…”

The Perception System of Intelligent Ground Vehicles in All Weather Conditions: A Systematic Literature Review

“…However, this solution is of limited use, because of constraints such as high cost and high energy usage. The loss of efficiency due to adverse environmental conditions was examined in [ 123 ], and a comparison was made between lidars with wavelengths 905 nm and 1550 nm. The findings of [ 123 ] have also shown that lasers with a wavelength of 1550 nm have a much higher water absorption compared to 905 nm lidar.…”

Application of Wireless Accelerometer Mounted on Wheel Rim for Parked Car Monitoring

“…The classic sensing systems increasing the safety of car operation include: tire-pressure monitoring system (TPMS), adaptive cruise control (ACC), blind-spot detection (BSD), lane-departure warning (LDW), traction control (TC) sometimes called rollover prevention, antilock braking system (ABS), emergency brake assist (EBA), adaptive headlights and rearview camera. All these systems are well developed, but the progress in technology and system performances are under continuous improvements [6][7][8][9][10][11].…”