Analysis of Eye-safe LIDAR Signal under Various Measurement Environments and Reflection Conditions

Since LIDAR is advantageous for accurate information acquisition and realization of a high-resolution 3D image based on characteristics that can be precisely measured, it is essential to autonomous navigation systems that require acquisition and judgment of accurate peripheral information without user intervention. Recently, as an autonomous navigation system applying LIDAR has been utilized in human living space, it is necessary to solve the eye-safety problem, and to make reliable judgment through accurate obstacle recognition in various environments. In this paper, we construct a single-shot LIDAR system (SSLs) using a 1550-nm eye-safe light source, and report the analysis method and results of LIDAR signals for various measurement environments, reflective materials, and material angles. We analyze the signals of materials with different reflectance in each measurement environment by using a 5% Al reflector and a building wall located at a distance of 25 m, under indoor, daytime, and nighttime conditions. In addition, signal analysis of the angle change of the material is carried out, considering actual obstacles at various angles. This signal analysis has the merit of possibly confirming the correlation between measurement environment, reflection conditions, and LIDAR signal, by using the SNR to determine the reliability of the received information, and the timing jitter, which is an index of the accuracy of the distance information.