You've seen sensor news, especially in self - driving cars. Now, you can own Garmin's LIDAR - Lite V3! It's a top - notch, compact optical distance measurement sensor perfect for drones, rovers, robots, or interactive projects. Garmin is famous for high - quality sensors, especially GPS ones, and this LIDAR is no exception.
With a laser - based sensor, you can measure up to 40 meters away while using only 130 mA during acquisition. Use the I2C command set to easily adjust between accuracy, operating range, and measurement time.
Key features:
- Compact, lightweight, and low - power consuming.
- Communicates via I2C (recommended) and PWM.
- True laser distance measurements; many so - called LIDAR sensors aren't real LIDARs.
- Example library code available for Arduino (C/C++) and CircuitPython/Python.
This LIDAR measures straight ahead, not rotating. It's super light and compact, ideal when you don't need a rotating sensor.
To read distance values, connect a microcontroller or microcomputer to the I2C pins. Garmin says you can measure at up to 500 Hz, but it depends on accuracy. In most cases, we got around 150 Hz.
Using the Garmin LIDAR - Lite V3 is quite straightforward. First, connect a microcontroller or microcomputer to the I2C pins. This will allow you to read the distance values measured by the sensor. You can measure up to 40 meters away, and you can adjust between accuracy, operating range, and measurement time using the I2C command set.
There are a few things to note. This LIDAR measures straight ahead and doesn't rotate. So, if you need a sensor that can cover a wide area by rotating, this might not be the best fit. Also, the measurement frequency can go up to 500 Hz according to Garmin, but the actual frequency depends on how accurate you want the measurements to be. In most common use cases, you'll get around 150 Hz.
When it comes to maintenance, since it's a compact and low - power device, it doesn't require much. Just keep it clean and avoid exposing it to extreme conditions. If you're using the provided example library code for Arduino or CircuitPython/Python, make sure to update it if needed to ensure smooth operation.
