LiDAR reference

2026-07-02 · 16 min

How to choose your LiDAR in 2026: the complete 3D sensor guide

Complete cross-sectional guide to choosing your LiDAR in 2026: technologies (solid-state, MEMS, flash, mechanical), selection criteria (range, FoV, resolution, IP), use cases and budget.

choix-lidarguide-achatlidar-2026budget-lidarselection-capteurcomparatif-lidar

Illustration for a complete 2026 LiDAR selection guide.

Introduction

1. Start from your scenario, not from the technology

2. The 4 technology families (summary)

3. Key technical criteria for comparison

4. Budget: how much does a LiDAR cost in 2026?

5. Decision guide by use case

6. Software integration: what to check before buying

7. Common pitfalls

8. Use Jovaxis to compare

Conclusion

Partager

Sources

How to choose the right LiDAR sensor in 2026article
AGV/AMR LiDAR guidearticle
Capteurs LiDAR pour la robotiquecatalog
LiDAR Visualizer Comparison Tooltool
Global LiDAR Market Reportreport
Hesai FTX180 product pageproduct
RoboSense E1R — the future of robotics LiDARarticle
Section 164: NDAA-compliant LiDAR guide 2026article

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Mentioned in this article

Browse the detailed pages for each mentioned entity.

Manufacturers

Hesai

Ouster

RoboSense

Livox

SICK

Hokuyo

Blickfeld

Innoviz

Aeva

Products

AT128

📏 210 m @10% reflectivity · 👁️ 120°

JT128

📏 40 m @10% (60 m max) · 👁️ 360°

FTX 180

📏 20 m @10% · 👁️ 180°

ETX

📏 300 m @10% · 👁️ 120°

QT128

📏 20 m class · 👁️ 360°

Pandar128

📏 200 m @10% (300 m max) · 👁️ 360°

OS0

📏 35 m (10%) / 250 m max · 👁️ 360°

OS1

📏 90 m (10%) / 400 m max · 👁️ 360°

OS2

📏 200 m (10%) / 400 m max · 👁️ 360°

OSDome

📏 20 m (10%) / 75 m max

M1 Plus (RS-LiDAR-M1)

📏 200 m+ automotive · 👁️ 120°

Helios

📏 120 m · 👁️ 360°

Avia

📏 190 m @10% / 450 m @80% · 👁️ 70.4°

UST-15LX

📏 15 m · 👁️ 270°

Applications

Drones & aerial inspection

Infrastructure inspection (power lines, wind turbines, bridges, rooftops) and aerial mapping.

Mapping & mobile mapping

3D scanning of buildings, infrastructure, tunnels, bridges, industrial sites and archaeological sites.

Smart infrastructure

Pedestrian/vehicle flow management, counting, intersection optimization and event detection.

Security & intrusion detection

Perimeter surveillance, intrusion detection, people counting and access control without visual identification.

Precision agriculture

Field mapping, biomass estimation, automated agricultural vehicle guidance and targeted spraying.