Ouster’s REV8 Sensors Turn Laser Scans into Full-Color 3D LiDAR Maps

Engineers at Ouster just released a fresh lineup of color LiDAR sensors called the REV8 OS family. These devices shoot out laser beams to measure distances and build detailed three-dimensional views of the world around them. What stands out right away comes from a new chip inside each one. Developed together with Fujifilm, this L4 chip adds accurate color information straight to every measurement point during the scan itself.

Previous versions of these 3D sensors returned clear but colorless point clouds, each with a set of spatial coordinates and the most rudimentary idea of how strongly the light reflected back. REV8 entirely flips it on its head, and each point now receives full color data. The end product appears to be a high definition photo wrapped around a flawlessly accurate 3D model in one incredibly smooth pass, rather than something painstakingly put together after the fact.

The highest-end sensor is known as the OS1 Max. This one has 256 different laser channels at its disposal and can travel a considerable distance, up to 500 meters under optimal conditions or 200 meters if the target only reflects 10% of the light. It has 45 degrees of vertical coverage and can spin 360 degrees horizontally. It is spitting out data at a stunning 40,000 measurements each second, providing the system a whopping 10 million points per second, more than double the range and detail of the previous iteration.

Color appears as a result of some clever magic occurring deep within the technology. The laser pulse leaves the sensor, bounces off an object, and returns with not just timing data for distance but also the subtle combination of light wavelengths that constitute color. The L4 chip does its job, processing those photons at the blink of an eye, or at the rate of picoseconds. Meanwhile, Fujifilm’s color science handles the conversion immediately on the chip, resulting in 48-bit depth and a dynamic range that spans from near black (one lux) to direct sunlight (2 million lux). There’s no need to bother about getting a camera to align with the scan or matching pixels to points later; it’s all included from the start.

That built-in method effectively addresses some of the common issues that sensors bring with them. A self-driving car may now discern the color of a traffic light or the glow of brake lights without waiting for a second device to corroborate what the laser has already detected. Warehouse robots sorting goods can distinguish between a red and a blue label while still measuring the box’s measurements. Survey teams mapping streets can obtain topographic data that already includes features such as building colors and signpost information, ready for use immediately in planning or simulation.

The REV8 series consists of four different models. The high-end OS1 Max is accompanied by updated versions of the small OS0, flexible OS1, and wide-angle OSDome. They all use the same L4 silicon, either in 128- or 256-channel configurations. Developers can switch between them without having to rewrite large amounts of code. It’s worth noting that production plans extend for 10 years, and to top it all off, these sensors surpass automotive safety standards for reliability in vehicles and heavy equipment.
[Source]