E8717A LIDAR Target Simulator

Accelerating Deployment with Minimal Space

The Keysight E8717A Lidar Target Simulator provides simulated targets in distance with reflectivity and a host of proven features focused on providing valuable insights into lidar sensors. At one time, corner reflectors were used for radars and slowly being replaced by radar target simulators. The time is now for a lidar target simulator to address in-place of target boards and real-world objects for test.

Optimize Your Test Space Through Target Simulation

Utilizing target boards require large floor space for lidar range test. Consider these simple test setups, one done outdoors to achieve a longer target distance, and another done indoors. As lidar demand reaches a critical point, manufacturing automation, and space optimization will become imperatives.

With a LIDAR Target Simulator (LTS), target distances would be adjustable with a click of a button. This would also include simulating a wide range of reflectivity with additional features to provide valuable insights into the lidar sensors. And the setup should be kept compact, preferably a bench type setup, keeping the usage of space at a minimal while maximizing on the test coverage. Keysight is applying years of expertise in photonics and target simulation to introduce such an LTS for the future of lidar test needs.

At the heart of Keysight E8717A LIDAR target simulator is the LTS base unit, receiving the lidar sensor signal via the remote optical head. The base unit adds delay and attenuation to simulate desired target distance and reflectivity respectively and returns the signal back to the sensor.

A cobot is used to position the LIDAR sensor to cover the desired field-of-view (FOV) to be received by the stationary remote optical head. This combination and the unique remote optical head design makes it compatible to all time-of-flight lidar sensors, be it solid state or mechanical rotating.

Visualize and Analyze LIDAR Data

Accelerate your deployment and reduce time on developing and maintaining software to visualize and analyze your lidar sensors. Take a deep dive into the lidar’s performance with the following innovative software available with the LTS:  

• PathWave LIDAR Visualization Engine

-       PCAP recording and playback 

-       Visualization of PCAP

• PathWave LIDAR Analytics

-       Statistical analysis: Distance sweep and Reflectivity sweep

-       Point cloud analysis: Probability of Detection, Histogram, Box plot, Frame level analysis

Specifications and Features

Test and functionality