lidar

noun

1. (uncountable, usually)The 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.”

   “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.”

2. (countable)A device that provides such imaging.

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

3. (abbreviation, acronym, alt-of)Acronym of light detection and ranging.
4. (alt-of, alternative)Alternative form of LIDAR.