What Are The Applications Of LiDAR in The Field Of Industrial Robots?

The application of LiDAR in the field of industrial robots is rapidly deepening, becoming a key sensing device for the implementation of "intelligent manufacturing" and "Industry 4.0". Based on the latest industry practices in 2025, its core scenarios can be summarized into the following six directions.
1. High precision navigation and cluster scheduling
In scenarios such as warehousing, ports, and production line side warehouses, AGV/AMR requires centimeter level positioning and supports complex flow control with "hybrid vehicles+human-machine coexistence".
3D SLAM LiDAR can stably create maps under conditions such as shelf changes, dim lighting, outdoor rain and snow without the need for reflectors or QR codes; Combined with cluster scheduling algorithms, a single warehouse can support more than 100 vehicles operating simultaneously.
The 16 line and above scheme can reduce the differential pressure of the construction drawing to ± 5 mm, and the obstacle avoidance response time is less than 200 ms, making it possible for the "black light factory" to transport continuously for 24 hours.
2. Online detection and size measurement
The natural advantage of LiDAR is "one scan, full-size output", which has replaced some three coordinate and visual workstations:
Through real-time comparison between 3D point cloud and CAD digital models, defects such as body gaps, springback of stamped parts, and flatness of battery boxes can be detected with real-time alarms for 0.05 mm level defects, and the single line detection cycle time can be shortened by more than 30%.
FMCW laser radar can additionally output speed information for "dynamic package volume measurement" on high-speed conveyor belts, providing data for subsequent billing and container optimization.
3. Safety monitoring and human-machine collaboration
Collaborative robots (cobots) must ensure instantaneous safety when sharing workstations with humans.
The 360 ° hemispherical radar forms a 4-meter safety screen on the robot base or top of the fence. Once it detects personnel intrusion, it will slow down or stop the machine, which is more flexible than traditional safety light screens and does not require multiple wiring.
For large stamping and bending equipment, real-time monitoring of whether there are hands/tools stuck in the mold area can significantly reduce work-related accidents.
4. Unmanned forklifts and outdoor heavy-duty logistics
Unmanned forklifts need to balance the mixed operation of indoor shelves, outdoor platforms, and storage yards.
The high beam LiDAR provides long-range sensing of ≥ 150 meters, combined with IMU and wheel speed to achieve centimeter level positioning. It can automatically identify platform height and container lock holes, and complete automatic loading and unloading of trucks.
In ports and open-pit mines, 60 ton heavy-duty trucks can be arranged in line through "LiDAR+5G remote control", improving turnover efficiency by 25% and reducing the need for manual drivers by 90%.
5. Process traceability and digital twin
Lidar can generate high-density point clouds at once, providing a "true 3D" base image for digital twins:
Scan the entire production line hourly, automatically compare equipment displacement and material stacking height, timely detect deviations caused by vibration and settlement, and achieve predictive maintenance.
Combining barcode/RFID to achieve "product location time" binding, providing sub decimeter level spatial indexing for quality traceability and inventory visualization.
6. Composite robot "hands and feet combined"
The new generation of "mobile chassis+six axis robotic arm" composite robot needs to complete grasping, loading and unloading while moving.
Lidar is responsible for chassis navigation and spatial obstacle avoidance, while sending 3D point clouds to the robotic arm controller to achieve "viewing while walking and grasping at the point". It can automatically replace workpieces weighing more than 20 kg between machine tools and CNC.
In dark or high light workshops, LiDAR is more stable than vision, avoiding recognition failures caused by reflective metal surfaces.
Summary
From "single point navigation" to "full stack perception", lidar is completing the transformation of "supporting role → leading role" in the field of industrial robots. With the cost of domestically produced 16-32 line radar falling below 2000 yuan and FMCW technology being implemented in batches after 2025, its application boundaries will further extend to small and medium-sized factories, and even discrete manufacturing production lines, laying a perceptual foundation for true flexible production.