LS Lidar LS-S1 Series Long Range 1550nm Automotive LiDAR

Long Range 1550 nm LiDAR for Autonomous Perception

The LS Lidar LS-S1 Series is a family of image-grade hybrid solid-state 3D LiDAR sensors developed for autonomous vehicles, advanced driver assistance development and other perception systems that need detailed information at long range. Available as the LS128S1 and LS180S1, the series combines a 1550 nm fiber laser with dense multi-channel scanning and configurable Region of Interest measurement.

Rather than being designed as a conventional surveying scanner, the LS-S1 Series focuses on forward environmental perception. It provides a dense 3D representation of roads, vehicles, pedestrians and surrounding infrastructure so autonomous-driving software can determine where objects are located and how the environment changes as the vehicle moves.

250 Metres at 10 Percent Reflectivity

Both LS128S1 and LS180S1 are specified for a detection distance from approximately 1.5 to 250 metres at 10% target reflectivity. This is an important specification for real-world automotive use because dark vehicles, tyres, road surfaces and clothing return considerably less laser energy than bright reflective objects.

Long-range detection gives perception software more distance over which to recognise and track objects ahead of a vehicle. Actual usable range still depends on the target, installation, atmospheric conditions and the operating environment.

1550 nm Fiber Laser Technology

The LS-S1 Series uses an in-house 1550 nm Class 1 fiber laser and Time of Flight distance measurement. The LiDAR sends laser pulses into the environment and determines the distance to surrounding objects from the time required for the reflected signal to return.

The 1550 nm architecture is particularly useful for long-range automotive LiDAR because it supports high-performance ranging while maintaining the required eye-safety classification when the system is operated within its specified conditions.

128 or 180 Measurement Channels

The LS128S1 uses 128 channels, while the LS180S1 increases this to 180. More vertical channels allow the sensor to collect additional measurements across the height of objects and road features within its field of view.

For autonomous perception, these layers help software distinguish the road surface from vehicles, pedestrians, barriers, signs and other infrastructure. The appropriate model depends on the required vertical detail, Region of Interest configuration and processing architecture.

Wide 120 Degree Forward Coverage

Both models provide a 120° horizontal field of view. The LS128S1 uses approximately 25° of vertical coverage, while LS180S1 configurations can provide approximately 22.5° or 25° depending on variant.

This wide forward viewing area is suitable for vehicle-mounted perception because it covers the road ahead as well as surrounding lanes and roadside areas. The sensor can therefore provide useful 3D information across a much wider area than a narrow long-range distance sensor.

Dense Point Clouds for Detailed Object Detection

The current product specification lists approximately 1.48 million points per second for the LS128S1 and 1.65 million points per second for the LS180S1. These points combine to form a detailed three-dimensional representation of the environment.

Dense point-cloud data helps perception software identify object contours rather than only determining that an obstacle is present. This is particularly useful when detecting pedestrians, vehicles, roadside structures and relatively small objects at longer distances.

±2 cm Range Accuracy

The LS-S1 Series provides a specified ±2 cm ranging accuracy. Accurate and repeatable distance measurements help maintain stable object positions within the LiDAR point cloud as the vehicle moves.

The final performance of an autonomous or mapping system also depends on sensor calibration, installation, software processing and any cameras, radar, GNSS or IMU sensors used alongside the LiDAR.

Region of Interest Scanning

A key feature of the LS-S1 platform is configurable Region of Interest or ROI scanning. This allows measurement density to be concentrated in selected areas of the field of view where additional detail is required.

For an autonomous vehicle, a high-resolution ROI can be placed in the road area where distant objects need to be identified first. Other areas can use lower measurement density, allowing the system to allocate LiDAR points more efficiently instead of applying the same resolution everywhere.

Fine Vertical Angular Resolution

The exact angular resolution depends on model and configuration. The LS128S1 provides approximately 0.2° vertical resolution in its standard configuration, with ROI versions providing substantially finer sampling. LS180S1 variants provide different ROI patterns and can reach approximately 0.034° minimum vertical resolution in selected configurations.

Finer angular spacing places more measurements on small distant objects. This can improve the amount of shape information available to perception software when an object occupies only a small part of the sensor’s field of view.

10 Hz Real Time Scanning

The LS-S1 Series operates at approximately 10 frames per second. This means the sensor provides a new 3D measurement scene ten times each second.

For autonomous-driving applications, this provides regular updates as vehicles, pedestrians and the sensor platform itself move through the environment while preserving the high point density required for long-range perception.

Automotive Ethernet Integration

The LS128S1 and LS180S1 use Automotive Ethernet for point-cloud communication. This interface is designed for integration with vehicle perception computers and other automotive electronic systems that need to process high-rate sensor data.

The LiDAR can also form part of a larger sensor-fusion system using cameras, radar, GNSS and an IMU. Each sensor contributes different information, while the perception computer combines the measurements into a more complete representation of the vehicle environment.

gPTP Time Synchronisation

LS-S1 documentation specifies support for gPTP time synchronization. Synchronisation is important in multi-sensor vehicles because measurements from LiDAR, cameras, GNSS and IMUs need to correspond to the same moment in time.

This becomes particularly important when the vehicle is moving at speed. Even a small timing difference can translate into a noticeable positional difference between datasets, so reliable timing forms an important part of perception-system integration.

Ultra Thin Vehicle Integration

The thin LS-S1 housing is approximately 220 × 225 × 45 mm in newer documentation, with an alternative basic housing also available. The low profile allows the LiDAR to be integrated into vehicle roofs, body panels or dedicated sensor modules more easily than a tall rotating LiDAR.

This form factor is intended for automotive integration where sensor performance must be balanced against available installation space, aerodynamics and vehicle styling.

Designed for Automotive Environments

The LS-S1 Series has an IP6K9K protection rating and is specified for operation from approximately -40°C to +85°C. Manufacturer documentation also specifies vibration and mechanical-shock testing for vehicle installations.

These specifications make the sensor suitable for demanding automotive development environments. As with any optical LiDAR, severe rain, fog, snow or contamination of the optical surface can still influence ranging performance, so environmental protection should not be interpreted as guaranteed measurement performance in every weather condition.

Typical LS-S1 Series Applications

• Autonomous vehicle perception
• ADAS research and development
• Robotaxi and autonomous shuttle systems
• Autonomous trucks and commercial vehicles
• Long-range pedestrian and vehicle detection
• Multi-sensor perception using cameras radar GNSS and IMU
• Automotive research and validation platforms

LS128S1 or LS180S1

The LS128S1 provides 128 channels and approximately 1.48 million points per second. It is suitable where long-range performance and dense 3D perception are required without the additional vertical sampling of the 180-channel model.

The LS180S1 increases the number of channels to 180 and generates approximately 1.65 million points per second. Its available ROI configurations can also provide finer vertical angular resolution, making it the stronger option where more detailed long-distance object information is required.

Buying the LS Lidar LS-S1 Series from Global GPS Systems

Global GPS Systems supplies professional LiDAR, GNSS and positioning technology for autonomous systems, robotics, surveying, mapping and industrial projects worldwide. Our team can help determine whether the LS128S1 or LS180S1 provides the right channel count, ROI configuration, field of view and network interface for your application.

When the LiDAR is being combined with GNSS, an IMU, cameras, radar or an onboard perception computer, the complete system architecture should be considered before selecting the final configuration. Global GPS Systems can assist with matching the LiDAR and positioning components to the intended integration and field requirements.