Definition of "lidar" in English

noun

1. (usually uncountable) The optical analogue of radar, using intense pulses of laser light to measure the composition and structure of the atmosphere.

   • Tesla bet on the idea that in the design of self-driving cars, lidar doesn't add enough capability, beyond what the cameras already provide, to be worth the additional cost.

2. (countable) A device that provides such imaging.

   • There's a lidar mounted on the roof of that Waymo.