The LW20/C is a small form factor, 100-meter range, laser sensor in an IP67 enclosure suitable for small drones and self-driving vehicles, where weight, size and power consumption are critical. The LW20/C includes driver hardware and software to control a servo-driven LiDAR scanner for sense-and-avoid applications.
The LW20 is a small form factor, water resistant LiDAR sensor that measures the distance to objects by timing a laser flash.
Accuracy is not generally affected by the colour or texture of the target surface, nor the angle of incidence of the laser beam.
The LW20 is tolerant to changes in background lighting conditions, wind and noise.
Description
The LightWare LW20/C Laser Rangefinder Altimeter is a long-range LIDAR sensor capable of detecting obstacles up to 100 meters away. This particular model weighs only 20 grams and comes in an IP67 enclosure, making it the perfect optoelectronic solution for small drones and self-driving vehicles. Other features include the drone laser altimeter for precise altitude measurement and sense-and-avoid capabilities to avoid a collision. The sensor is compatible with either Serial or I2C, with both cables included. Discover next-level optics with the LW20/C LIDAR sensor.
The laser beam is encoded so that units can be aimed at the same target without interfering with each other, enabling multiple redundancies and allowing for many UAVs to operate safely in the same area. Serial or I2C communications ports provide a comprehensive suite of commands and the unit can be switched into power-saving mode when not in use.
By adding a small digital servo such as the Corona DS-919MG, the LW20 can be turned into a tiny scanning LiDAR capable of capturing 360 points per second while scanning the area ahead of an autonomous vehicle. Ideal for sense-and-avoid and navigation, the LW20 can either stream the measured data or make decisions based on preset alarms.
There are two communication interfaces available using a common set of wires:
- A serial port (3.3V logic level) with configurable baud rate to connect to a host controller.
- An I2C serial bus (3.3V logic level and 3.3k pull up resistors) with configurable address as an alternative to the serial port when multiple devices are connected on a common bus.
USES
- Measurement to the nearest detected surface (first return).
- Measurement to the farthest detected surface (last return).
- Selectable filters to adjust the dynamic response to moving targets.
- Adjustable measuring update rate.
- Internal status monitoring.
- Servo driver for scanning applications.
Dimensions
Installation
LW20 Rangefinders require a clear line-of-sight to measure distance to a target surface. They can be mounted with a vertical or horizontal lens orientation.
- A dust and water resistant sensor for distance and height measurement
- Long-distance measuring range of (up to 100 m) LW20/C or (up to 50 m) LW20/B
- Hand held at 43 mm long
- Sensor is eye-safe with a Class 1M rating
- Ultra light weight LIDAR is ideal for small drone and UAVs; only 20g!
- Is a perfect drone laser altimeter
- Adjustable measuring speed: 48 - 388 readings per second (configurable)
- Sense-and-avoid LiDAR
- Compatible with Serial or I2C and servo driver applications
- First and last return signals available simultaneously
- Ardupilot compatible and LightWare Terminal
- Ships with all power, interface and USB cables
- Weather and environmental forgiving with a IP67 rating
- Cross-platform API for configuring and operating available in Downloads
Sensors have a resolution of 1 centimeter and the accuracy of each measurement is ±10 centimeter. Laser precise distance measurements provide the exact height above ground level for multi-copter drones to set off alarms when the ground gets too close. The LW20 is able to measure the first and last return signals when there is more than one object in the laser beam - objects must be separated by approximately 5 meters before they are seen as separate return signals. For terrain following applications, this enables a drone to track the closest tops of trees, and measure the height above ground simultaneously, to get information about potential collisions.
The LW20 outputs measurements from 48 readings per second, to a maximum of 388 readings per second. The slower reading rate gives better measuring range for forwards-facing obstacle detection. The faster reading rate is better for scanning applications. By adding a small digital servo, the LW 20 has built-in drivers to allow the unit to scan the area ahead of autonomous vehicles. Ideal for sense-and-avoid navigation, the LW20 can either stream the measured data to the communication ports for “SLAM(Stop Look Assess and Manage)” mapping, or analysed internally to look for potentially hazardous alarm conditions.
There are two enclosure options available, the LW20 and the SF20. The LW20 is a sealed waterproof IP67 unit suitable for outdoor applications. Weighing less than 20 grams (excluding cables), it is ideal for applications where the weight and size are important. The SF20 is an open frame, 10 gram unit, suitable for OEM applications when low mass is the defining specification. The SF20 is not waterproof. The SF20 / LW20 includes serial, I2C and alarm outputs that can be easily connected to a flight controller or a standard processing platform. Each interface on the SF20 / LW20 can be configured using a simple software menu. The SF20 / LW20 LiDAR is rated laser Class 1M eye safe. Do not view the laser with magnifying optics such as microscopes and telescopes.
| Characteristics | |
| Weight | 19 grams; 0.69 oz(excluding cables) |
| Range | 0.2 ... 100 m; 0.6 ...328 ft |
| Resolution | 1cm |
| Update Rate | 48 ... 5 000 readings per second |
| Accuracy | ±10cm |
| Outputs & Interfaces | Serial and I2C (3.3 V TTL, 5 V tolerant |
| Power Supply Voltage | 5.0V ±0.5V DC |
| Power Supply Current | 110mA |
| Laser Power | 2 mW |
| Dimensions | 20mm x 30mm x (35mm housing only) x (43mm with cable) |
| Operating Temperature | -10 to +50°C |
| Approvals | FDA: 1710193-000 (2017/02) CE (pending) |
| Housing | Aluminum |
| Optical Aperture | 28mm x15mm |
| Beam Divergence | 0.2 degrees |
| Beam Type | Single beam |
| Lens Material | Glass |
| Connections | Wire tail, 5 core plus shield |
| Enclosure rating | IP67 |
| Integrates with | PX4, ArduPilot, Arduino, Raspberry Pi and LightWare Studio |
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