RoboSense RS-LiDAR-M1

Overview

The RoboSense RS-LiDAR-M1 is a solid-state LiDAR sensor built around 2D MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) scanning technology. Rather than using a rotating mechanical assembly — the approach common in earlier LiDAR designs — the M1 steers its laser beam using a miniaturised MEMS mirror chip. This results in a compact, low-profile sensor with no large moving parts, which is well suited to the durability and packaging demands of production automotive environments.

How It Works

The M1 emits pulses from a 905 nm wavelength laser and measures the time-of-flight of returned light to calculate the distance and position of objects in its environment. The MEMS mirror deflects the laser across a 120×25° field of view at a 10 Hz frame rate. Returned pulses are processed to generate a dense 3D point cloud at up to 750,000 points per second in single-return mode, or up to 1,500,000 points per second in dual-return mode — a mode that captures both the first and last return signals from a single pulse, improving detection of partially transparent or overlapping objects such as foliage or rain. Typical ranging accuracy is 5 cm, with an average angular resolution of approximately 0.2°.

Performance Specifications

• Maximum range: 200 m
• Field of view: 120° (horizontal) × 25° (vertical)
• Point output: 750,000 pts/sec (single-return) / 1,500,000 pts/sec (dual-return)
• Laser wavelength: 905 nm
• Frame rate: 10 Hz
• Average angular resolution: ~0.2°
• Ranging accuracy: 5 cm (typical)

Automotive Qualification and Reliability

The M1's MEMS mirror module carries AEC-Q100 certification, the standard qualification benchmark for integrated circuits used in automotive applications. The sensor is also designed to meet ASIL-B (Automotive Safety Integrity Level B) requirements under the ISO 26262 functional safety standard, which is relevant for safety-critical perception systems in ADAS. Additional validated standards include ISO 16750 (environmental and electrical robustness) and CISPR 25 (electromagnetic compatibility for vehicle receivers).

Physical robustness specifications include:

• Ingress protection: IP67 (dust-tight and immersion-resistant)
• Operating temperature: −40 °C to +85 °C
• Supply voltage: 9–36 VDC
• Power consumption: 18 W

Real-World Applications

The M1 functions as a forward-facing environmental perception sensor, providing the 3D spatial data that ADAS and autonomous driving systems use for tasks such as object detection, classification, tracking, and collision avoidance. Its long detection range and high point density make it applicable to highway driving scenarios, while its wide horizontal field of view supports urban and intersection-level perception.

The sensor is aimed at automotive OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers integrating LiDAR into production vehicle platforms, as well as robotics and mobility system developers who require a sensor validated to automotive environmental and safety standards. RoboSense has deployed the M1 in volume across multiple automaker programmes, establishing it as one of the first solid-state LiDAR designs to reach genuine series production.