Sony FCB camera block
On April 11, 2025, the international giant SONY launched the LiDAR depth sensor, model AS-DT1, which is centered on the world’s smallest and lightest (29×29×31 millimeters, only 50 grams) and the breakthrough dToF technology, redefining the industrial-grade three-dimensional perception standard.
The SONY AS-DT1 is specially designed for scenarios with limited space such AS unmanned aerial vehicles and robots. Combining SONY’s accumulation in the fields of optical lenses and industrial camera modules, it achieves a perfect balance of high precision, long distance and strong environmental adaptability.
Although it was released by the international giant SONY, many insiders are not very familiar with the SONY S-DT1. Next, Danny Wong, a senior engineer from Xuanzhan Technology, will continue to provide a comprehensive popularization for everyone.
1.What is LiDAR?
SONY AS-DT1 is a LiDAR sensor, while LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging, light detection and ranging) is an active remote sensing technology that uses laser technology for distance measurement and environmental perception. The core principle is to generate high-precision three-dimensional point cloud data by emitting laser pulses and measuring the return time of the reflected light to calculate the distance of the target object.
2. The working principle of LiDAR
(1) Laser pulse emission
The LiDAR system emits high-frequency, short-pulse laser beams (typically with wavelengths of 905nm or 1550nm) through a laser emitter. The laser beam travels at the speed of light (about 300,000 kilometers per second) and is reflected when it encounters an object.
Reception and ranging of reflected signals
The receiver captures the reflected laser signal and calculates the target distance through Time of Flight (ToF) measurement. The specific calculation formula is as follows:
Distance =c x t/2
Among them, c is the speed of light and t is the round-trip time. Modern LiDAR achieves nanosecond-level time resolution through phase difference detection or direct time-of-flight (dToF) technology, with ranging accuracy reaching the centimeter level.
(2) Scanning and point cloud generation
The direction of the laser beam is controlled by scanning devices (such as rotating mirrors or MEMS micro-galvanometer mirrors) to scan the target area point by point. Each ranging point records the three-dimensional coordinates (X, Y, Z) to form point cloud data, and finally generates a high-precision three-dimensional model through the algorithm.
3. What is dTOF?
dTOF (Direct Time-of-Flight, direct Flight Time) is a technology that directly calculates the distance between an object and a sensor by measuring the time difference of the light pulse from emission to reflection. It has a close connection and difference with TOF (Time-of-flight, Flight Time) and iTOF (Indirect Time-of-flight, indirect Flight Time).
When the dTOF is in operation, the VCSEL emits pulsed lasers into the scene. After the laser pulses hit the objects, they are reflected back and received by the SPAD. The TDC records the emission time and reception time of the laser pulse. By calculating the time difference and multiplying it by the speed of light, the distance between the object and the sensor is obtained.
4. Core Technology: Collaborative innovation of dToF and SPAD
(1) Direct Flight Time (dToF) ranging
dTOF calculates the distance by measuring the time difference between the emission of the light pulse and the reflection and return of the target, breaking through the accuracy limitation of traditional phase-based ranging.
The SONY AS-DT1, which adopts dTOF technology AS its core, can achieve a high precision with an error of ±5 centimeters within a distance of 10 meters. It is applicable both indoors and outdoors (40 meters indoors / 20 meters outdoors), and the ability to resist environmental light interference has been significantly improved.
(2) Single Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD) sensor
The SONY A-DT1 utilizes the avalanche multiplication effect to amplify single-photon signals and can capture weak reflected light, solving the ranging problem of objects with low contrast and low reflectivity (such AS transparent glass and suspended obstacles).
In view of the above, the SONY AS-DT1 can achieve a distance resolution of 0.25 millimeters, accurately distinguish the spacing of dense objects, and is suitable for scenarios such AS the layer height detection of warehouse shelves and unmanned aerial vehicle terrain mapping.
Summary
SONY AS-DT1, with its breakthrough dTOF technology advantage, injects new impetus into the fields of robots, unmanned aerial vehicles and smart hardware. Its technological breakthrough not only resolves the perception bottleneck in spatially constrained scenarios, but also will promote the popularization of 3D vision technology in the consumer market.