The Laser That's Changing the World : The Amazing Stories Behind Lidar, From 3D Mapping to Self-Driving Cars

Tells the story of a laser technology that will have a big impact on society and the brilliant innovators responsible for its development Lidar--a technology evolved from radar, but using laser light rather than microwaves--has found an astounding range of applications, none more prominent than its crucial role in enabling self-driving cars. This accessible introduction to a fascinating and increasingly vital technology focuses on the engaging human stories of lidar's innovators as they advance and adapt it to better understand air, water, ice and Earth - not to mention mapping Mars and Mercury, spotting incoming nuclear warheads, and avoiding pedestrians and cyclists on city streets. Award-winning science writer Todd Neff invites readers behind the scenes to meet some of the great innovators who have explored and expanded the uses of this amazing technology: people like MIT scientist Louis Smullin, whose lidar bounced light off the moon soon after the laser's invention; Allan Carswell, who plumbed the shallows of Lake Erie en route to developing the aerial lidar now essential for coastal mapping and hurricane damage assessment; Red Whittaker, the field robotics pioneer who was putting lidar on his autonomous contraptions as early as the 1980s; and David Hall, whose laser sombrero on a Toyota Tundra gave birth to modern automotive lidar. These are just some of the stories Neff tells before looking ahead to a future that could bring lidar to unpiloted air taxis, to the contaminated pipes of the U.S. nuclear weapons complex, and to satellites capable of pinpointing greenhouse gas sources from orbit. As the author makes clear, the sky is no limit with lidar, which promises to make our world safer, healthier, and vastly more interesting. Lidar - a technology evolved from radar, but using laser light rather than microwaves - has found an astounding range of applications, none more prominent than its crucial role in enabling self-driving cars. This accessible introduction to a fascinating and increasingly vital technology focuses on the engaging human stories of lidar's innovators as they advance and adapt it to better understand air, water, ice and Earth - not to mention mapping Mars and Mercury, spotting incoming nuclear warheads, and avoiding pedestrians and cyclists on city streets. Award-winning science writer Todd Neff invites readers behind the scenes to meet some of the great innovators who have explored and expanded the uses of this amazing technology: people like MIT scientist Louis Smullin, whose lidar bounced light off the moon soon after the laser's invention; Allan Carswell, who plumbed the shallows of Lake Erie en route to developing the aerial lidar now essential for coastal mapping and hurricane damage assessment; Red Whittaker, the field robotics pioneer who was putting lidar on his autonomous contraptions as early as the 1980s; and David Hall, whose laser sombrero on a Toyota Tundra gave birth to modern automotive lidar. These are just some of the stories Neff tells before looking ahead to a future that could bring lidar to unpiloted air taxis, to the contaminated pipes of the U.S. nuclear weapons complex, and to satellites capable of pinpointing greenhouse gas sources from orbit. As the author makes clear, the sky is no limit with lidar, which promises to make our world safer, healthier, and vastly more interesting. -- Publisher's description "Containing over 1,400 articles, this is the most comprehensive encyclopedia of electrical engineering available. The articles were written and reviewed by an international group of engineers with academic or research affiliations. The entries are grouped into 64 broad categories such as solid-state circuits, fuzzy systems, and medical imaging. Mathematical explanations, tables, and graphics illustrate the articles. An extensive index by subject and keyword makes locating material easy. All of the articles have bibliographies. Larger public libraries and academic libraries with engineerings majors will find this to be a useful source."--"Outstanding reference sources 2000", American Libraries, May 2000. Comp. by the Reference Sources Committee, RUSA, ALA Hutchie Enter the laser Into thin air Plane crashes, hailstorms, and distant planets Take the plunge Disco ball in space Zapping Mars, Moon, Mercury, and even Earth Land and ice Trees and archaeological treasures Glass half full Firepond Map quest Atoms to bytes Hit the road (slowly) Debacle in the desert The road ahead Glue, drones, and radioactive pipes. A Comprehensive Encyclopedia Of Electrical Engineering, With Articles Written And Reviewed By An International Group Of Engineers With Academic Or Research Affiliations. The Entries Are Grouped Into 64 Broad Categories Such As Solid-state Circuits, Fuzzy Systems, And Medical Imaging. Mathematical Explanations, Tables, And Graphics Illustrate The Articles.