Unsettled Topics Concerning Coating Detection by LiDAR in Autonomous Vehicles
Autonomous vehicles (AVs) utilize multiple devices, like high-resolution cameras and radar sensors, to interpret the driving environment and achieve full autonomy. One of these instruments—the light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensor—utilizes pulsed infrared (IR) light, typically at wavelengths of 905 nm or 1,550 nm, to calculate object distance and position. Exterior automotive paint covers an area larger than any other exterior material. Therefore, understanding how LiDAR wavelengths interact with vehicle coatings is extremely important for the safety of future automated driving technologies. Sensing technologies and materials are two different industries that have not directly interacted in the perception and system sense. With the new applications in the AV industry, multidisciplinary approaches need to be taken to ensure reliability and safety in the future. Unsettled Topics Concerning Coating Detection by LiDAR in Autonomous Vehicles provides a transversal view of different industry segments, from pigment and coating manufacturers to LiDAR components and vehicle system development and integration. The report includes a structured decomposition of the different variables and technologies involved.