Influence of sensor blockage on automotive LiDAR systems

Abstract

Performance degradation of automotive LiDAR systems due to contamination of the sensor cover is a key problem for self-driving cars in harsh environments. Here the influence of standardized dust on the maximum range of a LiDAR sensor is investigated. Several samples were prepared for the study covering a transmission range from 65-94%. For each sample, several pointclouds at varying distances of a specified target were recorded and evaluated. The results exhibit a reduction of the sensor maximum range up to 75%.