LIDAR-Lite v3HP

LIDAR has never looked so good! This is the LIDAR-Lite v3HP, a compact, high-performance optical distance measurement sensor from Garmin™. The LIDAR-Lite v3HP is the ideal optical ranging solution for drone, robot, or unmanned vehicle applications. Each sensor is housed in a durable, IPX7-rated housing and includes all the core features and user configurability of the popular LIDAR-Lite v3.

The v3HP is very similar in function to that of the v3 but it can now sample faster at rates greater than 1kHz (where as the v3 is only capable of up to 500Hz). Another improvement is that this v3HP model is more power efficient with current consumption rates 40mA less than the v3 (that's 65mA as opposed to 105mA while idle, and 85mA instead of 130mA while acquiring).

Each LIDAR-Lite v3HP has a range of 1m to 40m and features an edge-emitting, 905nm (1.3 watts), single-stripe laser transmitter, 8m Radian beam divergence, and an optical aperture of 12.5mm. This version of the LIDAR-Lite still operates at 5VDC (6V max) with a peak power of 1.3W and still possesses an accuracy of +/- 2.5cm at >2m. On top of everything else, the LIDAR-Lite is user-configurable, allowing adjustment between accuracy, operating range and measurement time and can be interfaced via I2C or PWM with the attached 200mm cable.

Note: CLASS 1 LASER PRODUCT CLASSIFIED EN/IEC 60825-1 2014. This product is in conformity with performance standards for laser products under 21 CFR 1040, except with respect to those characteristics authorized by Variance Number FDA-2016-V-2943 effective September 27, 2016.

  • Resolution: 1 cm
  • Typical accuracy: +/- 2.5cm at distances greater than 2 meters (Refer to operating manual for complete operating specifications)
  • Range: 1m to 40m
  • Update rate: Greater than 1kHz
  • Interface: I2C or PWM
  • Power (operating voltage): 4.75-5VDC; 6V Max
  • Current consumption: 65ma idle; 85ma during acquisition
  • Operating temperature: -20°C to 60°C
  • Laser wave length/Peak power: 905nm/1.3W
  • Beam divergence: 8m Radian
  • Optical aperture: 12.5mm
  • Water rating: IPX7
  • Unit dimensions: 24.5mm x 53.5mm x 33.5mm (1.0in x 2.1in x 1.3in)
  • Weight: 34g (1.2oz)

LIDAR-Lite v3HP Product Help and Resources

LIDAR-Lite v3 Hookup Guide

May 16, 2018

A tutorial for connecting the Garmin LIDAR-Lite v3 or the LIDAR-Lite v3HP to an Arduino to measure distance.

Core Skill: Soldering

This skill defines how difficult the soldering is on a particular product. It might be a couple simple solder joints, or require special reflow tools.

1 Soldering

Skill Level: Noob - Some basic soldering is required, but it is limited to a just a few pins, basic through-hole soldering, and couple (if any) polarized components. A basic soldering iron is all you should need.
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Core Skill: Programming

If a board needs code or communicates somehow, you're going to need to know how to program or interface with it. The programming skill is all about communication and code.

3 Programming

Skill Level: Competent - The toolchain for programming is a bit more complex and will examples may not be explicitly provided for you. You will be required to have a fundamental knowledge of programming and be required to provide your own code. You may need to modify existing libraries or code to work with your specific hardware. Sensor and hardware interfaces will be SPI or I2C.
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Core Skill: Electrical Prototyping

If it requires power, you need to know how much, what all the pins do, and how to hook it up. You may need to reference datasheets, schematics, and know the ins and outs of electronics.

3 Electrical Prototyping

Skill Level: Competent - You will be required to reference a datasheet or schematic to know how to use a component. Your knowledge of a datasheet will only require basic features like power requirements, pinouts, or communications type. Also, you may need a power supply that?s greater than 12V or more than 1A worth of current.
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Comments

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  • Member #1551493 / about 4 years ago / 1

    hello does anybody knows if it can be use it outside, i want it for 3d mapping fields with a phantom 4 drone, to do cloudpoints a then edit them like they do with professional lidar topography.

  • Member #354070 / about 4 years ago / 1

    For reference:

    The cable is 3.75mm (0.147") in diameter (could not find this in any Garmin or other documentation)

  • Member #1439154 / about 5 years ago / 1

    I'm using the latest Arduino Library provided by garmin. Testet on a Nano, I'm not able to break 495Hz on white walls with distances of either ~90cm or ~300cm. The MCU is idleling while waiting for the ISR to fire, no Serial print or any other operations are executed, just plain looping. Timing was measured by connecting a Salaea logic analyzer to the mode pin. The 495Hz are relatively stable. Servicing the ISR takes a few microseconds, it's just settings a volatile variable to true. So there is not much deadtime introduced and it can be ruled out, that this causes the "slow" readings.

    @SWDUDE seems to has managed to get it working at 1000Hz. Has anyone else had success in achieving this?

    • jwarren / about 5 years ago / 1

      According to Garmin support, the "v3HP_MONITOR" Arduino sketch on their GitHub page is the tested code and wiring configuration for full-speed operation. If you can't break 500Hz with this code (I couldn't on 3 different units) I would recommend reaching out to Garmin Support. They're working on a plan to replace our units, as it sounds as if the device firmware (which users can't reprogram) is incorrect on some units.

      • jwarren / about 5 years ago / 1

        Here's the link to that code: https://github.com/garmin/LIDARLite_Arduino_Library/tree/master/examples/v3HP/v3HP_MONITOR

  • liudr / about 5 years ago / 1

    Has anyone followed the instruction and installed a 680uF capacitor on Arduino? Will that inrush of current drop your Arduino out of the USB?

  • SWDUDE / about 5 years ago / 1

    Has anyone been able to receive 1000+ samples per second with this device? Setting the configuration parameter from 0 to 5 yields similar results for me where I will receive a sample (on average) every 3000 microseconds. Setting "sigCountMax" (Maximum acquisition count) to 1 I am able to get almost 500hz which is not 1500hz. I am using an Arduino UNO at 1Mbaud and the git library for the v3HP. I also setup the external interrupt for busy status (instead of using the waitForBusy funtion) which didn't help much.

    • SWDUDE / about 5 years ago / 1

      Okay... So I was finally able to get this working using the Mode Select as an interrupt connected to pin 2 on the Arduino UNO. The 'waitForBusy' function will not let me receive samples nearly as fast as using the interrupt. Using the interrupt, I am now able to receive distance measurements at about 1000 Hz. 1500 Hz anyone?

      • jwarren / about 5 years ago / 1

        Hi @SWDUDE! I am currently struggling to get this sensor to break the 450Hz mark with no luck. Would you be able to share your configuration and some sample code? Thanks!

    • Member #431334 / about 5 years ago / 0

      I am considering using this sensor to measure proximity to certain clipping point for drift cars during race. Seeing that you have already worked with the sensor, would you think this is an appropriate sensor for that? (the cars may in fact produce quite a lot of tire smoke during their drive past the sensor) - and if so, would you be willing to help me out get the device to work with Arduino, in case there are issues I need to be aware of that are not already clear in publicly available sample code? Thank you for your input on this matter.

  • Member #138443 / about 5 years ago / 1

    I believe the accuracy is supposed to read +/- 2.5cm instead of +/-2.5mm.

  • how structurally sound is it such as mounting on a spinning platform for scanning of a room? aka 360 horizontal spin with 90deg vertical traversal?

    "how fast can i move it?"

  • Timmeh / about 5 years ago / 1

    "Water rating: IPX"

    What does this mean?

    • Sorry about that, it should read "IPX7" like in the description. That is the Ingress Protection code that lets you know how protected the case is against the intrusion of foreign particles. There is a link to it in the description that goes to an explanation page on Wikipedia.

Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Based on 7 ratings:

Currently viewing all customer reviews.

1 of 1 found this helpful:

Great device but does not meet Spec on data rate

We are using it over I2C and can sometimes get data rates around 300 Hz (Most of the time we don't see a measurement once we command it to fire for 10 milliseconds. This is No where near the advertised 1KHz. Not sure if we have bad units or what. Looking at various forums seem like we are not the only ones that are having the data rate of this device NOT meeting its specification.

1 of 1 found this helpful:

Good for my application

I used this to control IR heaters mounted above a $80,000 bridge crane to turn off the heaters based off the cranes position. Using a pro micro, I was able to use the LIDAR-Lite in PWM mode without the data corruption of I2C. The run to the sensor must have been a little far, even with boosters but the switch to PWM cured that. The sensor reads the crane position along its 99' runway perfectly. We'll see how reliable the system is in the long run but for now my boss thinks I'm a magician...Thanks sparkfun!

1 of 1 found this helpful:

Works Great

I am using the v3HP as a robot range finder and it works great. Very robust, works in sunlight.

2 of 2 found this helpful:

Excellent Performance

The device is worth choosing over the former model just for the double sample rate alone. Good construction. Water resistance is a nice touch, but only as a safety measure. Optics will not perform if you get water onto the lenses and if you plan on exposing the sensor to moisture, I recommend enclosing it in glass or non-IR-blocking plastic, or at the very least covering the front. Leaving lenses exposed is always a bad idea when dealing with precision instruments.

The only thing missing that would make it a perfect point cloud scanner is an RGB sensor. I'm having to combine mine with a standalone module and alignment is always an issue, but for the price that low, can't complain. Love this thing!

Super quality

This is the best budget lidar sensor and you must buy it.

Garmin wins!

Getting two of them to work on one I2C bus was a little tricky, but I'm very impressed with the accuracy, sampling rate and the relative ease of setup.

For the price, I'd be hard put to do better.