KVAL: 3DFix Technical Pilot

LiDAR, an acronym for Light Detection and Ranging, uses laser pulses to take measurements and generate a 3D map of an environment using the time-of-flight measurement principle. There are different types of LiDARs where one of them is spinning. Spinning LiDARs typically have a 360 degrees horizontal and 30-45 degrees vertical field-of-View (FOV). This is ideal for some applications, such as top-mounted on self-driving cars, which can fully utilize the 360 degrees horizontal FOV. However, other applications use less than 360 degrees, e.g., due to sensor placement and region of interest (ROI) selection. If any of the LiDAR beams are directed away from the ROI, it will result in discarded measurements and increased cost of the remaining useful measurements. This project is concerned with a patent-pending invention, which takes advantage of commercial off-the-shelf spinning LiDAR. A low-tech and low-cost reflector concept is used to reshape and redistribute the beams. The concept can be configured to maximize point cloud density, maximize coverage, or a combination. This enables custom configurations to fit with application-specific requirements. By ensuring that all or most of the LiDAR beams are directed towards the target, the cost of useful measurements is reduced. This simple yet highly effective reflector device is validated in various configurations using optical simulations, pattern simulations, and experimental prototype results. The concept fits into a range of applications, markets, and business models. As a result, it can be introduced into the market at multiple points along the value chain ranging from the LiDAR manufacturers to sensor system integrators, original equipment manufacturers, and aftermarket retrofit. In this project, the concept was demonstrated in a use case related to robot cell safety. Furthermore, IPR was prepared for commercial exploitation.

The impact of 3DFix is to make companies able to develop autonomous safe operations of machines or vehicles. Autonomous operations will reduce labor cost and increase productivity, efficiency, and safety. The goal is to provide suppliers of machines and vehicles, application integrators of autonomous steering in machines/vehicles and LiDAR vendors that needs to meet the increasing demand for low cost autonomous products with a tool that, increases profit margins and earnings and increased competitiveness Achieved and potential effects and effects - based on project results: A new system configuration was validated in a lab environment and protected by an international patent application. This enables freedom to operate and a competitive advantage for future commercialization.