Analysis:
A number of different sensors and sensing solutions are available to developers of robotics and autonomous systems for operations such as perception, object detection and collision avoidance. Examples include LiDAR, Radar, cameras and ultrasonic sensors. Each sensor class (and subclasses) has their own strengths, weaknesses, and areas of applicability.

Ultrasonic sensors, which use pulsed, high-frequency sound waves and time-of-flight measurements to determine distances to objects, have the advantage over other sensing systems in that they can detect objects regardless of the makeup of their surfaces and in challenging conditions (weather, reflections etc.). As such, conventional 1D ultrasonic sensors possess many qualities that make them suitable for close-range object detection and avoidance. However, 1D ultrasonic sensors have a limited field of view and cannot detect objects in 3D space.

Toposens’ ECHO ONE DK solution offers the advantages of traditional 1D ultrasonic sensors (robustness, reliability, light tolerance etc.), but provides for greater sensing coverage, supplying rich and reliable data for 3D perception. This makes the ECHO ONE DK extremely well-suited as a sensing solution for autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), autonomous guide vehicles (AGVs) and other types of robotic systems where perception in 3D space is necessary for safe and efficient operation. – Dan Kara