[News Terms] US Tightening Grip on China, Next After Semiconductors: 'Lidar'?

US sanctions against China, which have primarily targeted semiconductors, are showing signs of expanding to LiDAR, a key component of autonomous vehicles.

LiDAR stands for Light Detection And Ranging, a sensor that measures the distance to objects by timing how long it takes for emitted laser beams to reflect back from those objects. Simply put, it can be understood as the eyes of an autonomous vehicle.

LiDAR consists of a laser, scanner, receiver, and positioning system, and its operating principle is similar to radar, which uses radio waves. It measures how far obstacles are from the sensor by calculating the time it takes for photons emitted from the transmitter to hit an object and return to the receiver, incorporating data collected from physical parameters such as temperature, humidity, light, and weight. Because the time it takes for light to return varies depending on the reflective surface, LiDAR can also create high-resolution three-dimensional images. These high-resolution 3D images generated by LiDAR help prevent collisions and enable safe driving by accurately detecting and classifying objects.

LiDAR provides more precise and diverse information than cameras or radar, making it a sensor that can be used for smooth operation of autonomous driving and advanced driver assistance systems such as adaptive cruise control, blind spot warning systems, and forward collision prevention. This is why LiDAR is regarded as a core technology that enhances the accuracy and safety of autonomous vehicles. However, its vulnerability to weather conditions such as dust, snow, and rain is considered a drawback.

The LiDAR market is rapidly growing alongside the advancement of autonomous driving technology. According to global market research firm Yole Intelligence, the LiDAR-related market size is expected to exceed 8.2 trillion KRW by 2027.

Meanwhile, according to foreign media, US LiDAR company Auster is lobbying the government and political circles, warning that Chinese competitors’ LiDAR technology could be used for espionage against Americans and urging for countermeasures. Angus Pakala, CEO of Auster, told Politico, "China’s ongoing efforts to dominate the LiDAR market will diminish our economic advantage, increase dependence on China for core technologies, realize China’s military and security ambitions, and perpetuate China’s malicious trade practices." He argued that a complete ban on Chinese-made LiDAR sensors or the imposition of tariffs is necessary.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.