lidar

plural lidars

1. uncountableusuallyThe optical analogue of radar, using intense pulses of laser light to measure the composition and structure of the atmosphere.

   Tesla bet on the idea that in the design of self-driving cars, lidar doesn't add enough capability, beyond what the cameras already provide, to be worth the additional cost.

   1 more example

   Although operational environments profoundly differ, both kinds of autonomous vehicles, groundcraft and aircraft, will still rely on conceptually the same sorts of sensors — cameras, radar and lidar — to perceive surroundings in real time.

   2020 January 1, Adam Hadhazy, “Achieving autonomy”, in Aerospace America, archived from the original on 22 Apr 2025

2. countableA device that provides such imaging.

   There's a lidar mounted on the roof of that Waymo.

plural LIDARs

1. abbreviationacronymAcronym of light detection and ranging.

plural LiDARs

1. alternativeAlternative form of LIDAR.