Name a common application for lidar technology.

Lidar technology is widely recognized for its ability to provide precise distance measurements and high-resolution 3D mapping, which makes it particularly beneficial for autonomous vehicles. These vehicles employ lidar sensors to create an accurate representation of the surrounding environment, allowing them to navigate safely and effectively. The lidar system emits laser pulses that bounce off objects and return to the sensor, enabling the vehicle to detect obstacles, assess distances, and make real-time decisions to avoid collisions. This functionality is crucial for the development of self-driving cars, as it enhances their ability to interpret complex environments, ensuring safe navigation and obstacle avoidance.

Other applications listed, such as weather forecasting, surveillance and reconnaissance, and ship navigation in foggy conditions, are contexts where lidar may be used but are not as predominant as its application in autonomous vehicles. For instance, while lidar can assist in detecting atmospheric particles for weather purposes or be employed in some levels of surveillance, these applications do not capitalize on lidar's unique spatial mapping capabilities to the same extent as autonomous vehicle navigation does.