Flying for WildLife: LIDAR pushing the limits of altimetry and event logging

Flying for WildLife Trust is a non-commercial trust that was born out of a concern for the plight of Zimbabwe’s wildlife, with particular emphasis on elephant and rhino populations. The main objective of the trust is to provide Zimbabwe National Parks Wildlife Management Authority and other stakeholders with regular aerial surveillance and monitoring over wildlife areas and national parks at no cost.

Continue reading

SPH Engineering & UGCS SkyHub: Pushing the limits of altimetry and terrain following

SPH Engineering is a globally recognized provider of UgCS – UAV mission planning and flight control software solution. This constantly evolving software is used by drone pilots and professional surveyors worldwide – particularly in the areas of environmental, archeological, engineering, mining, agricultural and biological surveys. In fact, one aspect – UgCS educational program – aims to support universities with a safe and efficient tool to test innovative ideas around surveying and inspections using drones.

Continue reading

microLIDAR™ secret: SWaP

The last few years has witnessed exponential growth in the fields of robotics, machines and the Internet of Things (IoT). It is also a time that has seen significant enhancements made in sensor technology, mainly through (small) size, (light) weight and (low) power (SWaP) characteristics. A clear beneficiary of this revolution is LiDAR.  

Continue reading

Spotlight on the SF23/B microLiDAR™

The SF23/B is a very low power sensor ideal for energy critical applications. This microLiDAR™ is a small form factor, general purpose LiDAR that measures the distance to objects by timing a laser flash. The SF23/B generates its own light source, making it accurate in all weather conditions like snow, rain, fog and direct sunlight.

Continue reading

Rise of the UAV: adopting drone tech

UAVs, commonly known as drones, have transformed the technological operating environment. Their ability to explore hard-to-reach areas make them an indispensable necessity for almost all industries. A thriving operating environment has also invited many drone manufacturers to market.

Continue reading

The power of SLAM

SLAM is a process whereby a robot or machine – in the form of an unmanned aerial or ground vehicle (UAV/UGV) – builds a map of its environment while simultaneously computing its own location within that map. SLAM is highly effective in mapping out unknown environments and is a valuable data tool for engineers in BVLOS path planning and obstacle avoidance.

Continue reading

IoT systems and adoption

IoT is a gamechanger for businesses as they reap the rewards of time-efficiency, speedy operations, and cost-cutting. It’s no surprise then that many businesses are embracing technology and making plans to get connected to an IoT network. We explain the four main components of an IoT system and the key considerations when adopting an IoT solution.

Continue reading

Know your SF11/C

The SF11/C microLiDAR™ is one of the most popular sensors in the LightWare range. Considered the definitive laser altimeter for drones and other UAVs, the SF11/C is the ideal solution for accurate AGL measurements, automated landings, precision hovering and terrain following.

Continue reading

Ideal sensor technology for IoT

We’ve dedicated this edition of LiDAR Matters to focus on IoT and how LiDAR technology is fast becoming the ideal choice for many IoT applications.
With numerous sensor technologies complementing the IoT revolution, we also look at the key features and benefits of LiDAR for IoT.

Continue reading