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Knight Optical (KO) is developing secure and efficient ways leading to highly automated technologies (HAVs) to enhance road capacity using LiDAR-based optical equipments. Automobile manufacturers of self-driving cars are racing to the finish line to make the preponderance of vehicles on our roads autonomous, and it's not only cars that are seeking driverless technologies. Other means of self-driving public transport are also being investigated; such as buses, trains, trams, and even experimental aircraft projects. In April this year, the EU Commissioner for Transport revealed a forecast for complete self-driving car capabilities to be reached by the year 2030.

The world cyurrently is striving to make roads more efficient with schemes such as Smart Motorways; seeking new ways to produce seamless road capacity across towns and cities. And, highly automated technologies (HAVs), otherwise known as autonomous vehicles, are playing a pivotal role in road performance. Recognized predominantly for their safety benefits – maintaining a safe and consistent distance between cars and reducing congestion and gridlock on our roads – HAVs are set to change the way we use our streets.  

LiDAR: Driving the Driverless Vehicle Movement 

The linchpin behind today's driverless cars is Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR); a technology commonly used for sensor-based geospatial systems. It is this innovation that has resulted in further exponential growth between the optical community and the automobile world over recent years. Many may recall observing this device on Google's self-driving 'Waymo' car – sited on its roof in a dome-shaped form. However, other manufacturers are taking to installing bonnet-mounted LiDAR systems for a somewhat discreet aesthetic to meet the sleek-looking sought-after vehicle styles of the 21st century. 

Knight Optical (KO) has been working alongside spearheads within the autonomous vehicle sector for several years as a long-standing supplier of optical components for LiDAR systems. There is an array of optics required to enable the high-performance operation of LiDAR systems – as well as a wide-ranging variety of components that protect integral elements of the system. Of course, optical specification is wholly dependent on the vehicle in question and each manufacturer's unique blueprint. 

For example, KO’s Front Coated Mirrors are employed within LiDAR systems to steer laser beams for optimum performance. In contrast, the Optical Filters are specified to eradicate stray light that may impede the visualization of the system. Furthermore, KO’s Cover Windows – such as the Dome Windows mounted on Google's Waymo self-driving care – are essential in defending internal elements within LiDAR systems. 

Of course, alongside project-specific component variation, each manufacturer works to individual wavelengths; according to their device's requirements. Cutting-edge LiDAR systems commonly operate in the 905nm and 1550nm wavebands for applications active in the near-infrared (NIR) spectrum to perceive their surroundings. However, away from the world of motoring, organizations are using lower wavelengths to measure alternative atmospheric properties. One such example is the UV Raman LiDAR system, which transmits at a wavelength of 355nm to measure clouds, water vapour and aerosols. 

Based on the application, be it in the visible, ultraviolet (UV), near-infrared (NIR), infrared (IR), far-infrared (FIR), mid-wave infrared (MWIR) or long-wave infrared (LWIR) waveband, Knight Optical comprises a wide-ranging offering of optics suitable for a variety of spectrums. 

Vigilant Vehicles Require Vigilant Suppliers

It's incredibly apparent that optical components are vital for maximum LiDAR operability. Therefore, it's not only imperative to specify the correct optics for these systems, but it's also essential to ensure these components are on-spec and manufactured to a high standard. Inadequate specifications could result in dire consequences for such a potentially precarious application, putting road users and pedestrians at risk, and branding the future of self-driving vehicles unsafe. 

With LiDAR operating as the 'eyes' of driverless vehicles, it's; therefore, a priority to work alongside first-class proficient optical component suppliers, such as Knight Optical, to enable high-performing results and push the boundaries of autonomous driving.

Knight Optical: Going the Extra Mile 

Suffice to say, LiDAR and optics are intimately linked, and as the technology transudes within the automobile industry; Knight Optical is expecting to see an increased omnipresence of this technology on the streets and cars. As demand for LiDAR optics prospers, Knight Optical is poised for the market demand. As a result, their ever-expanding portfolio of optical components is continually evolving to keep up to date with manufacturer requirements.