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TOF and LiDAR: Analysis of Core Differences
Release time:
2025-11-25
Both TOF (Time of Flight) and LiDAR are ranging sensing technologies. Though evolving along distinct paths, they have both expanded their application boundaries through technological iterations. The prototype of TOF technology can be traced back to the 1960s, initially used primarily for long-distance detection in the military field. With the development of semiconductor technology, it gradually miniaturized after the 21st century and was adopted by major mobile phone manufacturers around 2017, triggering an upsurge in consumer-grade applications. LiDAR, on the other hand, emerged shortly after the invention of the laser in 1960. It was already used for topographic mapping and meteorological observation in the 1970s. Driven by autonomous driving technology since the 2010s, LiDAR has evolved from mechanical rotating to solid-state, with gradual optimizations in cost and size.
Today, these two technologies have flourished in different tracks, with core differences manifested in multiple dimensions.
The working principle is the core difference between the two. TOF emits modulated optical signals to the target, calculates the time of flight of light after receiving the reflected light to obtain distance, and is essentially "area array detection" that can acquire 2D distance images in one shot. LiDAR, on the other hand, scans the target by emitting laser beams, collects 3D spatial information in the form of point clouds—some adopting the time-of-flight method and others the triangulation ranging method—with its core being "point scanning to construct 3D models."
Their performance characteristics focus on different aspects. TOF devices feature low cost and small size, with a frame rate of 30-60fps, making them suitable for dynamic scenarios. However, they have relatively low ranging accuracy (typically centimeter to decimeter level), an effective distance mostly within 10 meters, and weak resistance to strong light interference. LiDAR, on the other hand, boasts extremely high accuracy (millimeter level), a ranging range of up to several hundred meters, and strong anti-interference capability. Nevertheless, it comes with high costs—mechanical rotating LiDAR has a low frame rate, and although solid-state LiDAR has improved in this regard, its cost remains persistently high.
The application scenarios have thus diverged. TOF is widely used in consumer electronics, such as facial recognition and AR ranging on mobile phones, as well as gesture control in smart homes. LiDAR, on the other hand, focuses on high-precision fields—including environmental perception for autonomous driving, UAV mapping, and 3D inspection in industrial automation—and serves as a core device in scenarios requiring accurate spatial modeling.
The two are not a substitute but complementary to each other. With technological advancements, as the cost of solid-state LiDAR decreases and the accuracy of TOF improves, integrated applications are likely to emerge in more fields in the future.
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