Characterization of a Wearable LiDAR Sensor for Social Distancing

LiDAR sensors are widely used in autonomous driving, mobile robotics, aerospace, manufacturing, and many other fields. The speed, reliability, and range of LiDAR sensors can be affected by environmental conditions and usage patterns. Each application requires a deep understanding of sensor limitations. This paper explores the operational parameters of one of the most miniature and least expensive LiDAR sensors packaged in a wearable case. The target application, in this case, is social distancing during pandemics. This study focuses on the performance of miniature LiDAR sensors under different levels of light intensity, temperature, distance to the object, object size, angle of view, and object color. The experimental data enables a match between the sensor capabilities and application scenarios and provides direction for future work in improving the wearable sensors of this class.