BMW X6 Vantablack LiDAR
Many already know that Vantablack, developed by Surrey NanoSystems in the United Kingdom, is the darkest substances known, absorbing up to 99.96% of visible light. We covered the BMW X6 that was covered in Vantablack a couple weeks ago, but now, this material has been put to the test against LiDAR at the Frankfurt Motor Show.



LiDAR is basically a surveying method that measures distance to a target by illuminating the target with laser light and measuring the reflected light with a sensor. Ouster brought one of its LiDAR sensors into the X6 Vantablack showroom to see if it could detect the vehicle, and surprisingly enough, the vehicle was detected at a close distance. Here’s why it was detected:

DJI Osmo Action 4 Standard Combo, Waterproof Action Camera 4K with 1/1.3" Sensor, Low-Light Imaging,...
  • Impeccable Image Quality, Day or Night - Experience stunning image clarity and unparalleled low-light performance with the 4K action camera's large...
  • Vivid, True-to-Life Colors - Elevate your footage using 10-bit and D-Log M Color Performance to capture dazzling effects in golden sunrises and...
  • Long-Lasting Power, Even in Extreme Cold - Tackle low temperatures of -20°C (-4°F) and record up to 150 minutes non-stop with this reliable action...

Covering the X6 in Vantablack VBx2 reduces both (laser and Ambient light) of these parameters dramatically. At one-percent total hemispherical reflectance, it’s 10-times less reflective than a typical ‘low-reflectivity’ scenario for specifying maximum ranges for LiDAR. The Ouster OS1-64 LiDAR sensor is specced at a maximum range of 40 meters for a 10 percent reflective target, so there’s a maximum range of around 22 meters for a target that’s one-percent reflective, like VBx2-coated X6,” said Mark Frichtl, Ouster co-founder and CTO.

Author

A technology, gadget and video game enthusiast that loves covering the latest industry news. Favorite trade show? Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.