EN
LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) has become a core sensing modality in industrial automation for navigation, object detection, and dimensional verification. This article focuses on engineering considerations rather than product selection, with explicit references to relevant ISO and DIN standards to ensure design traceability and compliance.
1. Functional Role in Industrial Systems
In automation environments, LiDAR is typically used for:
- Mobile robot navigation and obstacle avoidance
- Area safety monitoring and intrusion detection
- 3D scanning for inspection and dimensional control
- Spatial mapping for digital twins and layout verification
Each use case has distinct requirements for accuracy, latency, field of view, and environmental robustness. These requirements must be aligned with system-level risk assessment and performance targets defined during the safety lifecycle.
2. Safety and Risk Assessment Requirements
Safety-related LiDAR applications (e.g., area scanning for human-robot interaction) are governed by functional safety standards. The system must be assessed using a structured risk analysis process to determine required risk reduction. ISO 12100 specifies the methodology for risk assessment and risk reduction, including identification of hazards and design of protective measures.
When LiDAR is used as part of a safety function, ISO 13849-1 provides requirements for safety-related parts of control systems and defines Performance Levels (PL). The LiDAR sensor, controller, and logic must be designed and validated to meet the required PL, with consideration of diagnostic coverage, MTTFd, and common-cause failure.
3. Metrological and Measurement Integrity
For dimensional inspection or mapping, the LiDAR measurement chain must be validated for accuracy, repeatability, and traceability. Although LiDAR-specific metrology standards are still evolving, DIN EN ISO 10360 (for coordinate measuring machines) provides a reference framework for acceptance and reverification testing methodologies that can be adapted to 3D measurement systems.
Key engineering practices:
- Establish a calibration routine with traceability to national standards
- Define acceptance criteria for measurement uncertainty
- Validate system accuracy under operational environmental conditions
4. Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) and Environmental Robustness
Industrial environments are electrically noisy and physically harsh. To ensure reliable operation:
- Use ISO 11452 and related EMC immunity standards as a reference for system-level robustness testing (automotive-focused but widely adopted as a benchmark)
- Specify ingress protection and mechanical durability suitable for dust, vibration, and temperature extremes
- Perform installation risk assessment, including reflective surfaces and multi-sensor interference
5. Integration Considerations and System Architecture
LiDAR deployment must be approached as part of the overall automation architecture:
- Safety LiDAR should be separated from non-safety sensing and validated with independent channels where required by ISO 13849-1
- Synchronization and timestamping are critical for sensor fusion; ensure deterministic communication and latency analysis
- Confirm that the safety functions remain effective under degraded sensing conditions (e.g., fog, dust, contamination)
6. Verification and Validation Strategy
A structured V&V plan is essential:
- Define test cases for detection performance across defined targets and conditions
- Validate safety functions using ISO 13849-2 for validation of safety-related control systems
- Document and maintain traceability from requirements to test evidence
7. Summary
LiDAR is a high-value sensing technology in industrial automation, but its performance and safety impact depend on disciplined engineering and standards-based integration. ISO 12100 and ISO 13849 establish the foundation for risk assessment and functional safety, while metrology and EMC standards such as DIN EN ISO 10360 and ISO 11452 guide verification of measurement integrity and robustness. The result is not only compliance but dependable, auditable system behavior in complex industrial environments.
Standards Referenced
- ISO 12100: Safety of machinery — General principles for design — Risk assessment and risk reduction
- ISO 13849-1: Safety of machinery — Safety-related parts of control systems — Part 1
- ISO 13849-2: Safety of machinery — Safety-related parts of control systems — Part 2
- DIN EN ISO 10360: Geometrical product specifications (GPS) — Acceptance and reverification tests for coordinate measuring machines
- ISO 11452: Road vehicles — Component test methods for electrical disturbances by narrowband radiated electromagnetic energy