Seeing Around Corners Using Smartphone-Grade Lidar

(spectrum.ieee.org)

40 points | by marc__1 3 days ago

4 comments

  • mberlove 10 minutes ago
    This specific finding is minor, but its implications are not IMHO. From the article it appears the researchers consider this a discovery in effect.

    If consumer hardware is already capable (in many settings) of reproducing what were formerly research-level and industry-grade techniques, it may be a transformation in more areas of technology than would be obvious. I am very curious to see if there will be further findings in this area.

    • aftbit 6 minutes ago
      Smartphone grade lidar == FaceID ?
      • ofrzeta 2 hours ago
        So this only works if you have walls opposite of this corner?
        • libria 1 hour ago
          It seems to require a lidar reflective object. Likely more generally, the effectiveness lowers the less objects there are to bounce and return signal.

          It could probably work with less accuracy/resolution against visible vehicles in the opposite lane, a hedgerow, postal box, pedestrian carrying a visible laptop and possibly synthesize all of these to improve its guess.

          • wongarsu 1 hour ago
            The video thumbnail implies bouncing off the ground, not a wall. Not sure how the geometry works out for that
          • cuechan 3 hours ago
            Why not just place a mirror at 45 degrees in the corner? That way you don't need the lidar but you can just look around the corner? It would also work better with the lidar.