Hokuyo sensors help mobile and stationary robots navigate, detect obstacles, measure distance, monitor work areas, and operate with greater awareness in demanding industrial environments.
Industrial robotic applications use mobile or stationary machines to automate movement, material handling, assembly, welding, inspection, positioning, and other production tasks. To perform these functions reliably, robotic systems need accurate information about objects, equipment, people, and changing conditions around them.
Hokuyo provides industrial sensors for automation and robotics, including 2D and 3D LiDAR, safety laser scanners, obstacle detection sensors, and laser distance sensors. These technologies provide the environmental and positional data that robotic equipment needs to detect, measure, localize, monitor, and respond.
Our sensing technologies are used by robot manufacturers, OEMs, machine builders, system integrators, automation engineers, and facilities operating robotic systems across manufacturing, warehousing, logistics, and material handling.
Different robotic systems require different types of environmental awareness. Hokuyo helps engineering teams match the sensor technology to the robot, operating environment, detection target, range, field of view, and control requirements.
Automated guided vehicles and autonomous mobile robots need reliable information about their position and the environment around them. Hokuyo LiDAR sensors provide scan and distance data that robotic navigation software can use to support:
Robot obstacle detection sensors continuously scan defined areas to identify objects before they interfere with movement or production. These systems can help detect:
Industrial safety laser scanners can monitor defined areas around robot arms, collaborative robots, transfer stations, and automated machinery. Depending on the safety-system design, they can support:
Robotics applications in manufacturing and logistics use sensing data to move products and materials with greater awareness. Common systems include:
Robotic welding, cutting, and fabrication cells often operate around people, fixtures, moving components, and material. Appropriate sensors can support:
Robots may need more than simple presence information. Hokuyo 2D and 3D LiDAR technologies can provide environmental data for:
Industrial robots and automated machines often need accurate, repeatable position information. Laser distance sensors can support:
The right sensor depends on what the robot must detect or measure, how the equipment moves, and where the sensor will operate. This overview can help narrow the starting point.
| Robotic application | Typical sensing requirement | Relevant Hokuyo technology |
|---|---|---|
| AGVs and AMRs | Localization, navigation, mapping, and obstacle detection | 2D and 3D LiDAR sensors |
| Autonomous forklifts | Obstacle, load, overhang, and route awareness | 3D LiDAR and obstacle detection sensors |
| Robot arms and cobots | Work-area monitoring and personnel protection | Safety laser scanners |
| Robotic work cells | Access, presence, and protective field monitoring | Safety scanners and detection sensors |
| Material handling robots | Positioning, docking, and collision avoidance | LiDAR and laser distance sensors |
| Welding cells | Perimeter and equipment monitoring | Safety scanners and obstacle detection sensors |
| Robotic inspection | Non-contact measurement, alignment, and repeatable positioning | Laser distance sensors |
| UAVs and mobile platforms | Environmental awareness and obstacle detection | Compact LiDAR sensors |
LiDAR measures distance by emitting laser light and calculating the return from surrounding surfaces. A robotic system can use this scan data to detect objects, estimate position, map an environment, monitor an area, or support navigation.
For mobile robotic applications, 2D LiDAR is commonly used when a defined scan plane provides the necessary navigation, localization, or obstacle information. 3D LiDAR sensors for robotics add height, depth, and volumetric information when objects may appear above or below a single scan plane.
Sensor selection begins with the application—not simply the technology. Providing the following information will help Hokuyo identify suitable product options and integration considerations.
Identify what must be detected or measured, including people, pallets, racks, machinery, vehicles, edges, reflective surfaces, or irregular objects.
Note whether the application is indoor or outdoor and whether dust, temperature, lighting, vibration, moisture, or confined mounting space must be considered.
Document the required range, field of view, accuracy, response time, interface, supply voltage, mounting position, and whether a safety-rated device is required.
Hokuyo offers compact sensing technologies for industrial environments where dependable detection and measurement are essential. Our team works with robotics manufacturers, OEMs, integrators, and end users to help evaluate application requirements and identify suitable sensor options.
Whether you are developing a new mobile robot, improving an existing work cell, or adding environmental awareness to automated equipment, Hokuyo can help you evaluate the sensing approach.
Share the robot type, application objective, detection target, operating environment, range, field of view, mounting location, output or interface requirements, and any applicable safety requirements.
Robotic applications can use LiDAR sensors, safety laser scanners, obstacle detection sensors, laser distance sensors, cameras, encoders, proximity sensors, and other sensing technologies. The right combination depends on whether the robot needs to navigate, localize, detect objects, measure distance, monitor an area, or help protect personnel.
LiDAR provides distance and scan data that robotic systems can use for obstacle detection, navigation, localization, mapping, area monitoring, docking, and spatial awareness. It is frequently used with AGVs, AMRs, autonomous forklifts, and other mobile robotic platforms.
2D LiDAR scans across a defined plane and is often used for navigation, localization, and area monitoring. 3D LiDAR captures height, width, and depth information, making it useful when a robot must account for overhangs, irregular loads, low-profile objects, or obstacles located outside one scan plane.
Robots use sensors to collect information about nearby objects and feed that information to the robot's control and navigation system. Depending on the system design, the robot may slow, stop, recalculate its route, or alert an operator when an obstacle is detected.
AGVs and AMRs commonly use LiDAR along with encoders, inertial sensors, cameras, and other technologies. LiDAR can support localization, mapping, route awareness, and obstacle detection by providing repeatable distance measurements around the vehicle.
Safety laser scanners can monitor configurable protective fields around robotic equipment. When a person or object enters a defined field, the scanner can provide a safety output for use by the machine safety system. The complete installation must be designed and validated according to applicable safety requirements.
Hokuyo sensing technologies can support area monitoring, presence detection, obstacle detection, and distance measurement around collaborative robotic applications. Product selection depends on the risk assessment, required function, environment, and whether the application requires a safety-rated device.
Start by defining what the robot must detect or measure, the required range and field of view, target characteristics, mounting location, operating environment, response time, interface, and applicable safety requirements. Hokuyo USA can review this information and help identify appropriate sensor options.
Tell us what your robot needs to detect, measure, monitor, or avoid. Hokuyo USA can help you evaluate the application and identify relevant sensing technologies.
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