ELI5 LiDAR - how it sees the world?

ELI5 LiDAR - how it sees the world?

Update: 2025-08-15
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What is LiDAR? Why is it helpful in addition to seeing things through cameras? How does LiDAR time-of-flight measure distance when light travels so fast—what tricks give picosecond precision? Why can LiDAR detect single-photon returns from angled surfaces, yet mirrors and shiny objects cause false readings? What are some surprising places LIDAR is used that most people wouldn’t expect?


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Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: mmomtchev, lexi_bean21, already_______taken, isnomad, gurumeditationerror, sniper1rfa, 317locc, doxysqrl410.


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ELI5 LiDAR - how it sees the world?

ELI5 LiDAR - how it sees the world?

ELI5 Explain Like I'm Five Podcast