Lidar (also LIDAR, or LiDAR) is a method for determining ranges (variable distance) by targeting an object or a surface with a laser and measuring the time for the reflected light to return to the receiver.
LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is a remote sensing technology that uses laser pulses to measure the distance to an object or surface. In the aerospace context, LiDAR is used for a variety of applications, including mapping terrain and measuring atmospheric conditions.
Examples of aerospace applications of LiDAR include:
- Autonomous navigation and landing of aircraft and spacecraft
- Mapping of planetary surfaces by spacecraft
- Measurement of wind profiles in the atmosphere
- Detection and tracking of objects in the airspace
- Surveying and mapping of the Earth's surface from aircraft or satellites.
Examples of aerospace companies using LiDAR are NASA, Airbus, Boeing, Honeywell, and Lockheed Martin.