Get in touch with QJKH Company
Solid-State LiDAR: An In-Depth Engineering Guide to Working Principles, Performance Trade-offs, and Buyer Evaluation
01 · LiDAR Technology Guide
What Is Solid-State LiDAR?
Solid-state LiDAR describes a family of LiDAR technologies that reduce or eliminate the conventional rotating scanning assemblies used in many mechanical LiDAR systems.
The term does not describe one single sensor architecture. MEMS, Flash LiDAR and optical phased-array technologies may all appear in discussions of solid-state LiDAR, but they steer or distribute light in different ways and have different field-of-view, packaging and performance characteristics.
CCH Product Scope
CCH is developing solid-state LiDAR technology, but solid-state LiDAR is not currently offered as an international CCH product line. This article is provided as a technology guide.
Solid-State LiDAR Concept
Conceptual illustration only. Actual beam steering and scan patterns
depend on the specific solid-state LiDAR architecture.
02 Architecture Terminology
Mechanical, MEMS & Fully Solid-State LiDAR
LiDAR terminology is not always used consistently across the industry. Understanding how the sensor actually scans the environment is more useful than relying on the marketing label alone.
Mechanical LiDAR
Mechanical LiDAR uses macroscopic moving assemblies to sweep measurements through the surrounding scene.
- Rotating or moving scanner assembly
- Can provide wide-area scanning coverage
- Established architecture across many applications
MEMS LiDAR
MEMS LiDAR removes the full rotating scanner assembly but still uses a microscopic moving mirror for beam steering. For this reason, MEMS systems are sometimes described as quasi-solid-state LiDAR.
- No full rotating sensor assembly
- Uses a microscopic moving optical element
- Supports compact directional scanning designs
Fully Solid-State LiDAR
Architectures such as Flash LiDAR or optical phased arrays can distribute or steer light without a conventional rotating or mechanical scanning assembly.
- No traditional rotating scanner
- Potential for highly integrated packaging
- FoV and performance remain architecture-dependent
The term “solid-state LiDAR” is used broadly in commercial literature.
When comparing sensors, check the actual beam-steering mechanism,
ranging principle and scan pattern instead of assuming that every
product described as solid-state behaves the same way.
03 Beam-Steering Technologies
MEMS LiDAR vs Flash LiDAR vs OPA LiDAR
MEMS, Flash and optical phased-array LiDAR are often grouped under the solid-state LiDAR umbrella, but they create the measurement field in very different ways.
MEMS LiDAR
A microscopic mirror steers the laser beam through a defined field of view. The complete sensor does not rotate, although the MEMS mirror itself moves.
Beam Steering
Micro-mirror movement
Typical Strength
Compact directional scanning and configurable patterns
Trade-off
FoV and scan dynamics depend strongly on the optical design
Flash LiDAR
Flash LiDAR illuminates a wider scene at one time and measures depth using an imaging receiver rather than sequential beam steering.
Beam Steering
No conventional sequential scanner
Typical Strength
Compact sensing and simultaneous scene capture
Trade-off
Power, receiver sensitivity and ambient-light performance vary by design
OPA LiDAR
Optical phased arrays steer light electronically by controlling the phase relationship between multiple optical emitting elements.
Beam Steering
Electronic optical phase control
Typical Strength
Potential for highly integrated, non-mechanical steering
Trade-off
FoV, efficiency, fabrication and commercial maturity vary
None of these architectures is universally superior. The best choice
depends on field of view, working distance, point distribution, package
size, environmental requirements, cost, software integration and the
specific perception task.
04 Distance Measurement
dToF, iToF & FMCW: How Solid-State LiDAR Measures Distance
Beam steering and distance measurement are different parts of the LiDAR architecture. A sensor may use one method to direct light and another method to calculate distance.
Beam steering answers “where is the sensor looking?” while ranging technology answers “how is target distance calculated?” MEMS, Flash or OPA therefore should not be confused with dToF, iToF or FMCW.
dToF
Direct Time-of-Flight measures the travel time between emitted optical energy and its detected return, converting that timing information into distance.
iToF
Indirect Time-of-Flight derives distance from the phase relationship between modulated emitted light and the received optical signal.
FMCW LiDAR
Frequency-modulated continuous-wave LiDAR uses coherent optical techniques and frequency information to derive range and, in some implementations, motion-related information.
The ranging method influences detector technology, optical architecture,
signal processing and system performance. No ranging principle should
be evaluated in isolation from the complete sensor design.
05 Optical Wavelength
905 nm vs 1550 nm LiDAR
Wavelength affects emitter technology, detector choice, optical design and laser-safety considerations, but it does not by itself determine whether one LiDAR will have better range or overall performance.
Near-Infrared LiDAR
905 nm
905 nm LiDAR is widely used across ranging and perception systems. Its performance depends on the complete emitter, detector, optics, filtering and signal-processing design.
Short-Wave Infrared LiDAR
1550 nm
1550 nm LiDAR uses different optical components and detector technologies. It offers different system-level trade-offs rather than automatically guaranteeing greater range or better measurement.
Detector Technology
Receiver materials and sensitivity differ with wavelength.
Optical Components
Lenses, filters and coatings must match the optical design.
Target Response
Surface reflectivity varies with wavelength and material.
System Cost
Cost depends on the complete optical and electronic architecture.
Laser safety: verify the actual manufacturer’s laser
classification and applicable IEC 60825-1 documentation. A product
described as Class 1 should be confirmed from the specific product
documentation rather than inferred from wavelength alone.
06 Robotics & Automation
Solid-State LiDAR for AGV, AMR & Robotics
Compact LiDAR architectures can be attractive for mobile robots and automation systems where package size, field of view and perception integration matter. The appropriate architecture depends on the required scan geometry, integration constraints and navigation software.
01
AGV / AMR Localization
LiDAR measurements can provide geometric features used by navigation software for localization and map matching.
02
SLAM & Mapping
Point-cloud or scan data can support simultaneous localization and mapping when combined with suitable algorithms and motion data.
03
Obstacle Perception
LiDAR can provide distance and geometry information used by downstream perception software to detect or characterize objects.
04
Sensor Fusion
Robotics systems can combine LiDAR with cameras, IMUs, wheel odometry and other sensors to improve environmental understanding.
LiDAR provides measurement data rather than complete navigation or object
classification by itself. SLAM, localization, obstacle classification
and motion planning depend on downstream software and the complete robot
system.
07 Selection Factors
How to Evaluate a Solid-State LiDAR Sensor
Compare sensors under the conditions that matter to the real application. Headline range or point-rate numbers alone do not describe complete system performance.
01
Range & Test Conditions
Check target reflectivity, object size, incidence angle and ambient conditions behind the stated working range.
02
Field of View
Compare horizontal and vertical FoV with the actual mounting position and coverage required by the application.
03
Angular Resolution
Resolution should be evaluated against target size, working distance and the spatial detail needed by downstream perception.
04
Point Distribution
Point rate alone does not show where measurements appear within the field of view or how density changes over time.
05
Update Rate
Frame or scan rate affects how quickly the environment is refreshed when objects or the sensor platform are moving.
06
Target Reflectivity
Dark, reflective and highly angled surfaces may produce different measurement behaviour and effective detection range.
07
Environment & IP Rating
Consider temperature, sunlight, dust, rain, fog, water ingress and contamination of the optical window.
08
Interface & SDK
Review Ethernet communication, timestamps, synchronization, SDK support and ROS / ROS 2 compatibility where required.
Multi-Echo / Multi-Return Data
Some LiDARs provide more than one return or echo from a measurement direction. Additional return information can be useful in complex scenes, but it should not be interpreted as a universal solution for rain, fog, dust or transparent targets. Its value depends on the sensor implementation and downstream software.
Compare the complete sensing architecture: beam steering, ranging method,
wavelength, field of view, point distribution, environment, interface
and software should all be considered together.
08 Limitations & FAQ
Solid-State LiDAR Limitations & Common Questions
Compact packaging does not remove the normal optical and environmental limitations of LiDAR. Real-world performance still depends on the sensing architecture, scene and operating conditions.
Sunlight
Strong ambient optical energy can reduce signal-to-noise performance depending on wavelength, filtering and receiver design.
Rain, Fog & Dust
Airborne particles and droplets can attenuate light or create additional returns.
Reflective Surfaces
Dark, glossy, transparent or highly angled targets may produce different measurement behaviour.
Thermal Design
Compact sensor packaging still requires appropriate optical, electronic and thermal management.
Is solid-state LiDAR really completely free of moving parts?
It depends on the architecture and terminology being used. Flash and OPA designs can avoid conventional mechanical beam steering, while MEMS LiDAR normally uses a microscopic moving mirror and is sometimes described as quasi-solid-state.
What is the difference between MEMS LiDAR and solid-state LiDAR?
MEMS LiDAR is one architecture often included within the broader commercial solid-state LiDAR category. It uses a small moving micromirror rather than a full rotating scanner assembly.
What is the difference between Flash LiDAR and MEMS LiDAR?
MEMS LiDAR sequentially steers measurements through a field of view using a micromirror, while Flash LiDAR illuminates a wider scene and measures depth using an imaging receiver.
Is 1550 nm LiDAR always better than 905 nm LiDAR?
No. Wavelength affects detector technology, optical design and laser-safety limits, but usable range and measurement quality depend on the complete sensor architecture.
Can solid-state LiDAR work in sunlight?
LiDAR can operate in daylight, but strong ambient optical energy affects signal-to-noise performance differently across sensor designs. Actual sunlight performance should be checked under the conditions relevant to the application.
Does solid-state LiDAR work in rain or fog?
Rain, fog, snow and airborne particles can attenuate optical signals or create additional returns. The effect depends on wavelength, sensor design, weather severity and processing.
Is solid-state LiDAR suitable for AGV and AMR navigation?
It can be, provided the field of view, range, point distribution, update rate and software interface fit the navigation architecture. Many AGV and AMR applications can also be solved with industrial 2D LiDAR when a horizontal scan plane provides sufficient environmental information.
Is solid-state LiDAR the same as a safety laser scanner?
No. “Solid-state” describes sensor architecture, not functional- safety certification. A LiDAR should not be used as a safety laser scanner unless the specific device and function have the required safety certification.
Mechanical LiDAR vs solid-state LiDAR: which is better?
Neither is universally better. Mechanical LiDAR can offer wide scanning coverage, while solid-state approaches can support compact packaging and different scan patterns. The right choice depends on the application.
Is solid-state LiDAR cheaper?
Not necessarily. Cost depends on optical components, emitters, detectors, packaging, production volume, performance requirements and software support. Architecture alone does not determine price.
Does CCH currently sell solid-state LiDAR internationally?
Not currently. CCH is developing solid-state LiDAR technology, but solid-state LiDAR is not currently offered as an international CCH product line. Current international LiDAR offerings focus on industrial 2D LiDAR.
Choose the Right LiDAR Architecture
Need LiDAR for an AGV or Industrial Automation Project?
If your application requires horizontal ranging, localization, detection or navigation data, CCH industrial 2D LiDAR may provide a simpler solution. For personnel protection, use a safety laser scanner designed for the required safety function.