LS Lidar N Series

Compact 360 Degree LiDAR for Robot Navigation

The LS Lidar N Series is a family of compact 2D LiDAR sensors developed for robot navigation, SLAM mapping and obstacle avoidance. Available as the N10, N10 Plus and N20, the sensors scan continuously around a complete 360° horizontal plane and provide distance, angle and intensity information that navigation software can use to understand the surrounding environment.

The combination of low weight, compact dimensions and low power consumption makes the N Series particularly suitable for service robots, AGVs, cleaning robots, disinfection robots and other autonomous machines where available installation space is limited.

360 Degree Environmental Scanning

The N Series scans across a full 360° horizontal field of view. This allows a robot to measure objects in every direction from one sensor position rather than only monitoring the area directly ahead.

For indoor navigation, this type of 2D LiDAR can be used to detect walls, furniture, people, shelving and other obstacles around the robot. Navigation or SLAM software can use the measured distances to build a two-dimensional map and determine the robot’s position within that environment.

N10 N10 Plus and N20 Models

The three N Series variants share the same basic 360° Time of Flight architecture but are designed around different priorities. The N10 provides a working range of approximately 0.02 to 12 m at 70% reflectivity and outputs up to 4,500 points per second. It is a compact general-purpose option for indoor robot navigation and obstacle detection.

The N10 Plus extends the specified range to approximately 15 m at 70% reflectivity and increases the point rate to approximately 5,400 points per second, with dual-echo operation allowing up to 10,800 points per second. It also offers stronger resistance to ambient light than the standard N10.

The N20 is focused more strongly on ranging precision and ambient-light performance. It provides approximately ±1.5 cm accuracy from 0 to 8 m and ±3 cm from 8 to 12 m at 70% reflectivity, while retaining the compact dimensions and 360° scanning format of the rest of the series.

Designed for SLAM Mapping

For a mobile robot, knowing the distance to surrounding objects is essential for localisation and route planning. The N Series continuously measures the surrounding environment and provides a two-dimensional profile that SLAM software can compare from one position to the next.

This allows an autonomous platform to build a map while moving and estimate its own position inside that map. In practical applications, this can support automatic route planning, localisation, collision avoidance and return-to-base functions.

Obstacle Detection Around the Complete Robot

Because measurements are collected around the full 360° field of view, the N Series can help a robot detect objects approaching from the side or rear as well as directly in front. This is useful on platforms that manoeuvre in confined areas or frequently change direction.

The sensor itself supplies measurement data rather than making navigation decisions. Obstacle avoidance behaviour is handled by the robot controller or navigation software using the LiDAR data together with wheel encoders, IMUs, cameras or other sensors where required.

Up to 15 Metres Detection Range

Detection range depends on the selected model and target reflectivity. The standard N10 is specified for approximately 12 m at 70% reflectivity, while the N10 Plus reaches approximately 15 m at 70% reflectivity. The N20 provides approximately 12 m at the same target reflectivity.

Reflectivity is important because darker surfaces return less laser energy than bright ones. Actual working distance therefore varies with the material being measured as well as ambient light, installation and environmental conditions.

905 nm Time of Flight Measurement

The N Series uses a 905 nm Class 1 laser and Time of Flight measurement technology. The LiDAR emits a laser pulse toward the environment and measures the time required for the reflected signal to return.

This method allows the sensor to calculate distance repeatedly while its optical system scans around the robot. The resulting data includes distance, measurement angle and reflected intensity, giving navigation software more information about surrounding surfaces than a simple proximity switch.

Adjustable 6 to 12 Hz Scanning

The N10, N10 Plus and N20 operate across a scanning frequency range of approximately 6 to 12 Hz. This allows the system integrator to balance update speed and angular measurement density according to the application.

A higher scan frequency provides more frequent updates as the robot moves, while a lower frequency can provide more closely spaced measurements around each scan depending on the model and configuration.

Very Compact 60 Gram Design

One of the strongest practical advantages of the N Series is its size. Each sensor is approximately 52 mm in diameter and 36.1 mm high with a weight of around 60 g.

This makes the LiDAR particularly easy to embed into small robots. The low profile allows designers to install it into the top or body of an autonomous machine without adding the weight and physical size associated with larger industrial LiDAR sensors.

Low Power Requirements

All N Series variants operate from approximately 5 VDC. Power consumption is around 1 W for the N10, 1.5 W for the N10 Plus and 1.2 W for the N20.

These low power requirements are useful on battery-powered robots because navigation sensors operate continuously whenever the machine is moving. Reducing sensor power consumption helps preserve the available battery capacity for motors, processors and other onboard equipment.

Serial Communication for Embedded Systems

The N Series communicates using a standard asynchronous serial interface. The N10 and N20 use a specified baud rate of 230,400 bps, while the N10 Plus uses 460,800 bps.

Serial communication makes the sensors straightforward to connect to embedded controllers, robot computers and development platforms. Software can process the continuous distance, angle and intensity stream for mapping and navigation functions.

Different Ambient Light Performance by Model

Ambient-light resistance differs significantly between the three models. The standard N10 is specified at approximately 4K lux, while the N20 increases this to approximately 60K lux. The N10 Plus provides the strongest specification at more than 80K lux.

This difference is relevant when selecting a sensor for indoor or outdoor-facing applications. For a robot operating mainly inside buildings, the standard N10 may provide sufficient performance, while applications exposed to brighter daylight can benefit from the stronger anti-light characteristics of the N20 or N10 Plus.

Typical Applications

• Autonomous mobile robots and AGVs
• Service and delivery robots
• Cleaning and disinfection robots
• Indoor SLAM mapping
• Robot localisation and navigation
• 360° obstacle detection
• Compact autonomous machine development

N Series or a 3D LiDAR

The N Series measures within a single horizontal plane and is primarily intended for 2D navigation and obstacle avoidance. For many indoor mobile robots, this is sufficient because walls, furniture, shelving and other major obstacles intersect the sensor’s scanning height.

A multi-channel 3D LiDAR is more appropriate when the system also needs detailed information about object height, uneven terrain or complex three-dimensional surroundings. The N Series is the more compact and data-efficient option when the primary requirement is 360° navigation on relatively level ground.

Choosing an N Series Model from Global GPS Systems

Global GPS Systems supplies LiDAR, GNSS and positioning equipment for robotics, industrial automation, surveying and autonomous systems. When choosing between the N10, N10 Plus and N20, the main considerations are required detection distance, ranging precision and expected ambient-light conditions.

For compact indoor robots, the N10 provides a simple low-power 360° solution. The N10 Plus is useful where additional range and stronger ambient-light resistance are required, while the N20 provides higher short-range precision. Global GPS Systems can help determine which variant best matches the intended robot, controller and working environment.