What technology does lidar primarily utilize for speed detection?

Lidar, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, primarily utilizes laser beams for speed detection. This technology emits quick pulses of laser light towards an object, such as a vehicle, and measures the time it takes for the light to reflect back. By calculating the time delay and knowing the speed of light, lidar systems can determine the distance to the object with high precision.

When measuring the speed of a vehicle, lidar calculates how quickly the distance changes by sending out rapid pulses of laser light and analyzing the returned reflections. This allows for accurate and reliable speed measurements, which is essential for enforcement by law enforcement officers. The use of laser beams is what differentiates lidar from other technologies such as radar and ultrasonic sensors, which rely on different types of waves. Thus, the effectiveness and precision of lidar in speed detection stem directly from its use of laser beams.