Market Trends of Global LiDAR Industry
Robotic Vehicles are among the Factors Driving the Market
- This segment is considering using LiDAR technology in robotic cars, automotive guided vehicles (AGVs), uncrewed vehicles, and drones. ADAS (Advanced Driver Assist System) is an acronym for Advanced Driver Assist System. LiDAR is one of the most advanced technologies currently being used to develop self-driving cars and autonomous vehicles. LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) can be used by autonomous drones, robots, and vehicles for navigation, obstacle detection, and collision avoidance.
- LiDAR enables self-driving vehicles, AGVs, and other drones to make precise judgments without human error, making them less susceptible to crashes. This has increased in recent years due to technological advancements and the relative cost reduction of LiDAR sensors. A self-driving car can see the world with a continuous 360-degree view thanks to LiDAR. It also allows for highly accurate depth information.
- When mounted on an AGV, a LiDAR sensor sends out a series of laser pulses that measure the distance between objects and the vehicle. This compiled data creates a full 360° environmental map of the operational area. The resulting mapping allows the AGV to navigate the facility without additional infrastructure.
- Using LiDAR in robotic vehicles entails using multiple LiDARs to map the vehicle's surroundings. The use of LiDAR is required for a high level of sensor redundancy to ensure the safety of its passengers. The proper development of fully autonomous or robotic vehicles for passengers is still in the works, and LiDAR is expected to play a significant role in these as well.
- LiDAR for robotic navigation provides critical distance measurement information about the environment and the vehicle's position on objects. Rapidly expanding e-commerce and a greater emphasis on workplace safety are driving massive growth in the Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) and Automatic Guided Vehicle (AGV) markets. Such factors will drive up demand for LiDAR applications in robotic vehicles.
- For example, RoboSense, a Smart LiDAR Sensor Systems provider, held a new product launch in November 2022, RS-LiDAR-E1 (E1), a flash solid-state LiDAR that sees 360° based on its in-house, custom-developed chips, and flash technology platform. E1 will help partners bridge the gap in smart driving perception and improve the all-scenario perception capability of automated and autonomous vehicles as a critical piece to realizing the core functions of autonomous driving.
- Furthermore, mobile robots operating outside can rely on geolocation capabilities such as GPS, as well as sensing technologies such as Lidar, to determine where they are and where they are going. LiDAR sensors are classified as navigation or obstacle avoidance sensors. The demand for Robot vehicles is expected to increase as E-commerce sales increase due to their wide range of applications. The market for LiDARs for robotic vehicle applications will be fueled by an increase in E-commerce sales.
- For instance, Velodyne Lidar Inc. announced in June 2022 that Boston Dynamics would use its lidar sensors in its robots as part of a multi-year agreement. According to the company, its Lidar sensors enable mobile robots (AMR) to operate autonomously in a variety of conditions, including changing temperatures and rainstorms. Robots can use their sensors to obtain real-time 3D perception data for localization, mapping, object classification, and object tracking.
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Latin America is Expected to Hold Significant Market Share
- Latin America has dense forest cover and can be identified as a developing economy, indicating significant expansion and excavation opportunities. Owing to the native nature of the region, coupled with LiDAR technology, the region is expected to witness solid growth in the studied market.
- According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, 49% of the total area of Latin America and the Caribbean is covered by forests. The region's forest cover includes 891 million hectares, representing approximately 22% of the global forest area. The region is home to 57% of the world's primary forests, which makes it vital for biodiversity and conservation.
- Furthermore, according to FAO, 14% of the total forest area has been earmarked for productive functions. The region's significant forest resources create a wide-open prospect for the adoption of the Lidar technology for its adoption in forestry. LiDAR-equipped drones can be used over these forest areas to create 3D models that illustrate the impact of human activity. Furthermore, owing to the capacity of LiDAR to penetrate tree cover makes it exceptionally useful for the region's thick forest-covered area.
- In addition to the applications of technology in forestry, the region is marked for its farming lands. FAO has titled Latin America and the Caribbean as the pillar for world food security with a mission of driving the necessary agri-food systems transformation to feed 10 billion people by 2050. Such ambitious goals, coupled with increasing regional agricultural exports, are expected to support the adoption of the technology in the sector.
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