Laser range sensors for mapping, localization, and obstacle detection — from 2D safety scanners to multi-beam 3D units on AMRs, drones, and outdoor mobile robots.
TECHNOLOGY VS COMPONENT
The Technology Library LiDAR page explains perception concepts. This page covers buyable scanners, specs, sourcing, and stack compatibility.
A laser-based range sensor that measures distance by timing reflected light — producing scan lines or point clouds for perception, mapping, and safety fields.
LiDAR shoots laser pulses and measures how long they take to bounce back — like echolocation with light. That builds a map of distances around the robot so it can avoid walls, people, and obstacles.
Time-of-flight or phase-shift ranging produces 2D scan profiles or 3D point clouds. Spinning multi-beam units trade power and mechanical complexity for density; solid-state and flash units trade FOV and range for reliability. Safety laser scanners are functionally distinct from navigation LiDAR — certified for personnel detection, not interchangeable without engineering review.
Builds range maps of the environment, detects obstacles, supports SLAM and localization, and (on safety-rated models) defines personnel-protection zones.
Single-plane laser sweep — dominant for indoor AMR navigation, obstacle avoidance, and mapping in flat environments.
Multi-beam rotating units producing dense point clouds — common on outdoor robots, AV R&D, and mapping-heavy platforms.
No spinning mechanics — MEMS, OPA, or flash architectures; reliability and form factor advantages with tradeoffs in FOV and range.
Illuminates a scene in one burst — compact modules for short-to-medium range 3D where scan rate and simplicity matter.
Emerging chip-scale and frequency-modulated approaches — watch for robotics-qualified SKUs vs automotive-only programs.
Certified personnel-detection fields (PLd/SIL class) — wired to safety PLCs; not interchangeable with navigation-only LiDAR.
SKU-level comparison is not available yet — use this table to decide what to verify before ordering.
13 selection specs · 11 key for buying decisions
| Spec | Why it matters | Buyer warning |
|---|---|---|
Range m Key selection spec 2D indoor: ~0.05–30 m; 3D outdoor: tens to 200+ m class-dependent | Must cover stopping distance at max speed with margin. Beginner: Think how far ahead the robot must see to stop safely — not the biggest number on the box. | Datasheet max range ≠ useful range on your reflectivity target. |
Field of view (FOV) ° Key selection spec 2D: ~270° common; 3D: H×V varies | Blind spots at corners cause collisions and map gaps. | Mounting height changes effective coverage. |
Angular resolution ° Key selection spec 0.25°–1°+ on 2D scanners | Thin obstacles disappear with coarse beams. | Resolution trades with scan rate on some units. |
Scan rate / frame rate Hz Key selection spec 2D: 10–50 Hz; 3D: 10–20 Hz common | Motion distortion and reaction time scale with update rate. | Fast robots need higher rates or motion compensation. |
Channels / beams Key selection spec Single-beam 2D to 128+ channel 3D | Vertical structure needs multi-beam or 3D. | Single 2D slice misses overhangs and ramps. |
Accuracy / precision mm / cm Key selection spec | Docking and tight navigation need verified accuracy. | Accuracy degrades at range extremes and on dark surfaces. |
Indoor / outdoor suitability Key selection spec | Sunlight and weather tolerance differ by design. | Indoor units fail outdoors from ambient IR. |
IP rating Key selection spec IP40–IP67 class-dependent | Dust and moisture destroy under-rated optics. | IP54 ≠ washdown or heavy rain. |
Interface Key selection spec Ethernet, USB, serial, CAN, safety I/O | Cable plant and driver support must match stack. | Verify Ethernet switch ports and PoE class. |
ROS / ROS 2 driver availability Key selection spec | Driver maturity dominates integration time. | Check exact model revision — not brand alone. |
Power requirements W / A Key selection spec ~2–15 W 2D; 10–40+ W spinning 3D | Sustained draw affects mobile endurance. | Spin-up inrush can trip undersized rails. |
Size / weight Optional detail | Mounting, CG, and vibration sensitivity. | Roof-rack 3D units shift platform stability. |
Eye safety class Optional detail Class 1 typical on industrial units | Installation compliance in public spaces. | Verify laser class label — do not assume. |
Range
m
2D indoor: ~0.05–30 m; 3D outdoor: tens to 200+ m class-dependent
Must cover stopping distance at max speed with margin.
Datasheet max range ≠ useful range on your reflectivity target.
Beginner: Think how far ahead the robot must see to stop safely — not the biggest number on the box.
Field of view (FOV)
°
2D: ~270° common; 3D: H×V varies
Blind spots at corners cause collisions and map gaps.
Mounting height changes effective coverage.
Angular resolution
°
0.25°–1°+ on 2D scanners
Thin obstacles disappear with coarse beams.
Resolution trades with scan rate on some units.
Scan rate / frame rate
Hz
2D: 10–50 Hz; 3D: 10–20 Hz common
Motion distortion and reaction time scale with update rate.
Fast robots need higher rates or motion compensation.
Channels / beams
Single-beam 2D to 128+ channel 3D
Vertical structure needs multi-beam or 3D.
Single 2D slice misses overhangs and ramps.
Accuracy / precision
mm / cm
Docking and tight navigation need verified accuracy.
Accuracy degrades at range extremes and on dark surfaces.
Indoor / outdoor suitability
Sunlight and weather tolerance differ by design.
Indoor units fail outdoors from ambient IR.
IP rating
IP40–IP67 class-dependent
Dust and moisture destroy under-rated optics.
IP54 ≠ washdown or heavy rain.
Interface
Ethernet, USB, serial, CAN, safety I/O
Cable plant and driver support must match stack.
Verify Ethernet switch ports and PoE class.
ROS / ROS 2 driver availability
Driver maturity dominates integration time.
Check exact model revision — not brand alone.
Power requirements
W / A
~2–15 W 2D; 10–40+ W spinning 3D
Sustained draw affects mobile endurance.
Spin-up inrush can trip undersized rails.
Size / weight
Mounting, CG, and vibration sensitivity.
Roof-rack 3D units shift platform stability.
Eye safety class
Class 1 typical on industrial units
Installation compliance in public spaces.
Verify laser class label — do not assume.
Additional key specs (seed data)
Indoor 2D: often ~0.05–30 m; 3D outdoor: tens to 200+ m class-dependent
Must cover stopping distance at max speed plus margin — not brochure max range alone.
2D: ~270° common; 3D: horizontal × vertical varies widely
Blind spots at robot corners cause clipping and phantom obstacles.
0.25°–1°+ on 2D; beam pattern density on 3D
Thin obstacles and door edges disappear with coarse resolution.
2D: 10–50 Hz typical; 3D: 10–20 Hz common on spinning units
Motion distortion and reaction time scale with update rate.
Single-beam 2D to 128+ channel 3D spinning; solid-state beam count varies
Vertical structure perception needs multi-beam or 3D — not a single 2D slice.
Millimeter-class on short-range 2D; centimeter-class typical on long-range 3D
Docking and tight aisle navigation need verified accuracy, not just range.
Sunlight tolerance and range differ by design
Indoor units fail outdoors from ambient IR and range collapse.
IP40–IP67 depending on class
Dust, washdown, and rain destroy under-rated optics and bearings.
Ethernet, USB, serial, CAN; safety scanners on safety I/O
Cable plant, switch ports, and driver support must match your compute stack.
Vendor packages and community drivers vary by model
Driver maturity affects integration time more than hardware cost on research builds.
~2–15 W on 2D; 10–40+ W on spinning 3D
Sustained draw and inrush affect mobile robot battery budgets.
Puck-class to roof-rack spinning units
Mounting height, vibration, and CG shift affect map quality and stability.
Class 1 typical on industrial units — verify label
Installation height and enclosure affect compliance in public spaces.
Prices vary by model, supplier, quantity, availability, and shipping speed. EAR pricing bands are guidance only unless tied to a sourced product record. Verify current pricing before ordering.
lidar_2d_edu
USB and compact Ethernet 2D units for research rovers and edu platforms span a wide marketplace spread. Driver support and range class matter more than listing price alone.
Typical buyer
University labs, hobby AMR builds, short-range indoor navigation prototypes.
Examples
Compact 2D scanning LiDAR modules with USB or Ethernet — research and edu class.
What affects cost
Price usually excludes
Buyer caution
Source basis
Category-level qualitative guidance — no SKU-linked distributor band yet.
Open research gaps
Verify current pricing with supplier before ordering.
lidar_2d_industrial
Industrial 2D scanners for AMR navigation and safety-rated personnel detection are typically sold through automation distributors with configuration services. Safety units price as certified systems, not commodity sensors.
Typical buyer
Warehouse AMR integrators, factory AGV fleets, collaborative cell safety.
Examples
SICK / Hokuyo / Pepperl+Fuchs class 2D scanners and safety laser scanners.
What affects cost
Price usually excludes
Buyer caution
Source basis
Category-level qualitative guidance — quote-driven on safety-rated units.
Open research gaps
Verify current pricing with supplier before ordering.
lidar_3d_spinning
Spinning multi-beam units dominate outdoor mapping and AV R&D. Pricing is model- and channel-dependent with long lead times on some lines.
Typical buyer
Outdoor mobile robots, mapping platforms, AV and robotics R&D teams.
Examples
Puck-class through high-channel spinning 3D LiDAR units.
What affects cost
Price usually excludes
Buyer caution
Source basis
Category-level qualitative guidance — no verified SKU band in EAR.
Open research gaps
Verify current pricing with supplier before ordering.
lidar_solid_state
Solid-state, flash, OPA, and FMCW modules span automotive programs and emerging robotics SKUs. Availability and qualification for your platform vary widely.
Typical buyer
Next-gen AMR programs, humanoid perception stacks, AV sensor evaluation.
Examples
Solid-state and flash LiDAR modules from automotive and robotics sensor vendors.
What affects cost
Price usually excludes
Buyer caution
Source basis
Category-level qualitative guidance — robotics-qualified SKU verification needed.
Open research gaps
Verify current pricing with supplier before ordering.
Representative product records for orientation — not endorsements.
EAR compatibility guidance is category-level unless a specific product record is sourced. Always verify voltage, current, connectors, signal type, documentation, and manufacturer limits before ordering.
Build chains
Works with
Required companion parts
Optional companion parts
Common interfaces
Voltage / current / power
Software & controller
Mechanical
Buyer mismatch warnings
Emergency substitution notes
Open research gaps
Full cross-component view: Compatibility overview
EAR does not currently verify live stock or delivery speed. Use this guide to avoid ordering the wrong part, then verify stock, shipping, compatibility, and datasheets with the supplier before purchase.
Urgency summary
LiDAR failures on navigation-critical fleets are rarely fixed by generic same-day parts — model, driver, safety class, and mounting must match first.
Check stock and shipping live before ordering.
Urgent questions
Acceptable substitutions (category-level)
Dangerous substitutions
Suppliers to check first
Local pickup targets (verify stock)
Marketplace cautions
Before you order
After arrival — bench test
If you get it wrong
Open research gaps
LiDAR feeds perception and navigation stacks — plan compute (edge GPU or industrial PC), time sync with IMU/cameras, extrinsic calibration, and network bandwidth for dense point clouds. Safety-rated scanners wire to safety PLCs; navigation LiDAR does not replace them.
15 manufacturers tracked — expand for chips and dossier links.
EAR does not currently show live inventory. Always verify stock, shipping speed, compatibility, and authorized-channel status before ordering.
Supported categories
Broad authorized catalog for semiconductors and modules
Buyer caution
Industrial and embedded sensor lines — verify stock
Supported categories
Wide semiconductor and module selection
Buyer caution
Shipping verification needed
Supported categories
Broad robotics catalog in one place
Buyer caution
Research and edu 2D LiDAR — verify model
Supported categories
Industrial motor drives and motion components
Buyer caution
Industrial sensing where listed
Supported categories
Authorized distributor for many semiconductor lines
Buyer caution
Industrial sensor distribution — verify authorization
Supported categories
Broad industrial catalog
Buyer caution
Industrial automation channel — regional stock varies
Browse all suppliers in the Supplier Directory. See what works together in the Compatibility Matrix.
Overnight availability needs live supplier verification. EAR does not track live inventory.
STOCK & SHIPPING
Overnight availability: needs live supplier verification. EAR does not track live inventory.
For rush-order decision checklists, see Emergency sourcing guide above.
Likely supplier targets to check first
See Who sells it above for supplier targets and sourcing guidance — then verify stock and shipping live before ordering.
Emergency sourcing checklist
Specular surfaces and glass causing dropouts or ghost returns
Replacement parts risk
Medium to high — industrial and 3D units often have 4–12+ week lead times; safety scanners may require certified reconfiguration after replacement.
Range on the datasheet is not the only metric — FOV, update rate, reflectivity handling, and driver support dominate real-world performance. Safety-rated scanners and navigation LiDAR are different procurement classes.
Range on the datasheet is not the only metric — FOV, update rate, reflectivity handling, and driver support dominate real-world performance. Safety-rated scanners and navigation LiDAR are different procurement classes.
USD bands by LiDAR class (2D / 3D / safety)
CURRENT STATUS
Needs sourced range
NEXT EVIDENCE TARGET
Authorized distributor listing spot-checks
Industrial and 3D LiDAR lead times
CURRENT STATUS
Anecdotal only
NEXT EVIDENCE TARGET
OEM and distributor disclosures
Model-level ROS 2 driver matrix
CURRENT STATUS
Category guidance only
NEXT EVIDENCE TARGET
Verified driver records per SKU family
These are representative product records and product families for orientation. EAR does not currently verify live stock, current pricing, or final compatibility. Always verify datasheets, supplier stock, and manufacturer limits before ordering.
6 published product records
SICK AG · SICK AG · LiDAR
SICK AG · SICK AG · LiDAR
SICK AG · SICK AG · LiDAR
SICK AG · SICK AG · LiDAR
SICK AG · SICK AG · LiDAR
SICK AG · SICK AG · LiDAR