LIDAR Lite v3 distance measurement

Has anyone had success using the LIDAR Lite v3 with Java Programming?

My team used it successfully last year. Here is the relevant class in our code: https://github.com/Paradox2102/Artemis/blob/master/src/team2102/lib/LIDARLite.java, which you are welcome to use.

Usage: Call startMeasuring(), then getDistance() calls will return the distance in centimeters. (Alternatively, you can use it directly with the WPILib PIDController). Finally, call stopMeasuring().

And here is the complete documentation for the LIDAR: http://static.garmin.com/pumac/LIDAR_Lite_v3_Operation_Manual_and_Technical_Specifications.pdf

I highly recommend reading it so you understand how it works and you can modify our code to do what you want.

Hey Rohit,

I was just looking up resources for the MavBots for using our LIDAR Lite v3 when I realized I was looking at your code, lol. I should have just asked you about it on Sunday.

Anyway, thanks for posting it here and on GitHub. Go Paradox!

– Mike Fine
Team 5514, MavBots

Chop Shop has been developing a LIDAR class here, we’ll probably be be looking at Paradox’s for extra guidance. Thanks for the code!

Other teams have mentioned issues getting measurements off polycarbonate. How was your experience with Lidar on field last year?

We were also unable to get measurements off polycarbonate; the LIDAR apparently sees straight through it. That was OK for us last year since we only used it to detect distance to the boiler wall.

From reading the documentation, I get the impression that one can tweak its settings to make this work – it can apparently measure the distance to the surface of a transparent liquid – however we haven’t tried that.