LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is a miniature 3D scanner, operating with the same principle as a ToF camera but with higher accuracy.
LiDAR sensor on iPad Pro
Apple’s promotional video about the LiDAR sensor on iPad Pro (2020).
LiDAR is currently Apple’s exclusive technology, allowing users to measure the distance to objects within 5 meters and operates at `the photon level at nanosecond speeds`.
The LiDAR sensor promises to significantly upgrade the experience of augmented reality (AR) applications and games developed on the ARKit platform.
AR apps and games on the ARKit platform run smoother thanks to LiDAR.
Although not mentioned by Apple, LiDAR also improves photography capabilities on the iPad Pro duo (2020).
Which Apple products have LiDAR sensors?
Late last year, Bloomberg revealed virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are two core technologies in Apple’s next development strategy.
Based on the source code of iOS 14, the LiDAR sensor may appear on the iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max released later this year.
A self-driving car model equipped with Apple’s LiDAR sensor is tested in California.
The appearance of LiDAR is considered a major improvement on Apple mobile devices.
According to Apple Insider, Apple Car vehicles equipped with LiDAR sensors have been tested in California since 2015. In addition, Apple conducted a study in 2017 detailing a 3D object recognition system for autonomous vehicles.
