LightWare Lidar’s GRF-250 is an ultralight laser rangefinder designed for gimbal integration aimed squarely at the intelligence, surveillance, security, search and rescue industries. With its compact, ultralight design and long-range capabilities, the GRF-250 offers increased functionality and accuracy to improve a wide range of operations.

To learn more about the GRF-250, Commercial UAV News spoke with LightWare Lidar’s CEO, Nadia Nilsen.

Commercial UAV News: Why is now the right time to launch the GRF-250, and how does it align with LightWare Lidar's strategic vision?

Nilsen: In recent years, we’ve seen a surge in demand for drones in applications like Search and Rescue (SAR), Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR), law enforcement, and security. These industries rely heavily on gimbal systems to provide stable imaging for their drone capabilities. However, many of these drones could not benefit from the advantages of laser rangefinders due to the weight, size, and cost of traditional rangefinders.

As we evaluated the competitive landscape, we identified a clear gap for compact, ultra-light mid-range laser rangefinders that would be ideal for these small gimbal systems. This realization led to the development of the GRF-series, designed specifically to meet the demands of these applications without compromising on range or accuracy.

The GRF-250 is perfectly aligned with LightWare’s broader vision of microLiDAR® everywhere. Historically, LightWare distance sensors have been instrumental in enabling drone autonomy, providing critical data for obstacle detection and terrain following. With the GRF-250, LightWare takes a step further, not just supporting automated drone operations, but becoming an essential part of the payload. This evolution expands our role from facilitating navigation to being an integral component in mission-critical systems, delivering the precise distance measurements that are essential for effective gimbal operation and object localization in these life-critical applications.

By launching the GRF-250 now, we are responding to both a technological need and market opportunity, positioning LightWare as a leader in compact, versatile laser rangefinder solutions that are capable of transforming how drones are used in high-stakes industries.

Commercial UAV News: What makes the GRF-250 a game-changer in the LiDAR space, and how does it differentiate itself from other products in the market?

Nilsen: The GRF-250 stands out as a game-changer due to its unique combination of features - a long-range of up to 250 meters, packaged in a-compact and ultra-light form factor, weighing a mere 10.65 grams. This combination of distance and portability allows it to be integrated into applications where size and weight are critical. 

While there are other longer-range products available on the market, they often come with significant trade-offs, including excessive weight and higher costs, which are unnecessary when only mid-range capabilities are required. The GRF-250, by contrast, provides the perfect balance of range and portability, making it highly efficient without the drawbacks of bulkier alternatives.

Additionally, LightWare’s commitment to reliability, precision, and ease of integration differentiates the GRF-250 from other products in the market. 

As with all LightWare’s products, the GRF-250 is backed by a 24-month warranty, providing customers with a level of confidence in the product’s durability and reliability that is unmatched in the industry. 

As the GRF-250 is fully NDAA compliant, it supports the GRF-250’s role as a versatile and dependable tool for critical missions across the globe.

Commercial UAV News: What industries or sectors will benefit the most from the introduction of the GRF-250, and why?

Nilsen: Gimbal and drone manufacturers operating in sectors such as search and rescue (SAR), intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), law enforcement, security, and wildlife conservation can realize immediate value from LightWare’s GRF-250. These industries rely heavily on the precision and reliability of sensor technology to perform mission-critical tasks.

In particular, Electro-optical Infrared LiDAR enabled gimbals in these sectors benefit from laser rangefinders like the GRF-250 because they provide critical depth perception that enhances the focus of camera systems, ensuring a crisp and clear view of the object – without creating unwanted artifacts on the visual image. This is essential for identifying objects accurately, especially in high-pressure situations where real-time decisions are necessary.

Additionally, the depth measurement capability of the GRF-250 enables gimbal systems to triangulate the precise GPS coordinates of the observed object. This is especially important in sectors such as SAR, law enforcement, and security, where ground teams often rely on these exact coordinates to take over operations. Whether it’s locating a missing person, tracking a vehicle, or pinpointing wildlife, the ability to deliver accurate positional data is crucial to the effectiveness of these missions.

Commercial UAV News: What technologies / design innovation have you applied to build the GRF-250?

Nilsen: The GRF-250 incorporates microLiDAR® technology, a proprietary innovation by LightWare. This breakthrough enables a significant reduction in both size and weight while maintaining exceptional performance and accuracy, making it ideal for space-constrained applications

To achieve the desired performance, we meticulously optimized every element of the system—from the laser and receiver combination to the optics, housing, and finally, the electronic design and firmware. Each component was fine-tuned to extend range while preserving the GRF-250's compact and ultra-light design.

Optimizing laser rangefinding for longer distances presents unique challenges, particularly in signal sampling and processing. Depending on the reflectivity of the target surface, return signals can often be weak and obscured by background noise from other light sources, such as the sun. The compact size of the lenses further compounds this, as not all the reflected energy reaches the detector diode, which reduces signal strength even more.

At LightWare, we have overcome these challenges through the use of advanced signal amplification and noise filtering techniques. These innovations allow the GRF-250 to detect even the weakest signals from low-reflectivity surfaces with high precision, delivering accurate distance measurements over long ranges. Crucially, all of this is achieved while maintaining eye safety, a critical requirement for use in various applications.

Commercial UAV News: How has customer feedback influenced the design and functionality of the GRF-250?

Nilsen: The GRF-250 was designed in direct response to market demand and customer feedback, recognizing the need for an application-specific solution that addressed size, weight, and cost limitations, while delivering on the range and reliable performance they needed in the field. 

Very recently, a few of our customers have indicated their need for the increased accuracy of LiDAR in their Search and Rescue missions, especially in response to Hurricane Milton, whose effects are now being felt off the coast of Florida.

Our customers in the UAV and EO/IR gimbal industries identified the need for a laser rangefinder that could fit seamlessly into smaller platforms without sacrificing performance. By working closely with them and understanding their operational challenges, we developed the GRF-250 as a tailored solution to meet these precise requirements, bridging the gap between performance and practicality in the market.

Commercial UAV News: How does the GRF-250 represent a step forward in LightWare Lidar’s commitment to advancing lidar technology?

Nilsen: The GRF-250 marks a significant evolution in LightWare’s ongoing commitment to advancing LiDAR technology. By pushing the boundaries of range and precision in an ultra-compact form factor, LightWare continues to demonstrate our mastery of delivering innovative LiDAR solutions that meet the growing demands of the industry.

The development of microLiDAR® technology and the enhancement of sensor performance for long-range applications showcase LightWare's focus on providing industry-leading solutions that cater to the needs of sectors embracing automation and autonomy. Our goal has always been to bring new products that address evolving challenges, and the GRF-250 exemplifies this commitment by delivering cutting-edge performance in a portable and ultra-light design.

Additionally, the longer-range capabilities of the GRF-250 form the foundation for future innovations. As industries continue to push for more sophisticated technologies, LightWare is well-positioned to meet these demands. Keep an eye out for what's next, as we continue to expand the possibilities of LiDAR technology with new breakthroughs and products.

Click here to learn more about the LightWare Lidar GRF-250.