RPLIDAR U1: Consumer-Grade Underwater LiDAR Officially Launched
Slamtec is proud to announce the release of the RPLIDAR U1, the industry’s first consumer-grade underwater LiDAR. With this launch, the underwater world is finally stepping into the era of high-precision LiDAR SLAM navigation.
Underwater LiDAR has been researched for years, but existing systems have been bulky, expensive, and unsuitable for consumer or commercial use.
The RPLIDAR U1 changes this. Roughly the size of a ping-pong ball, it is compact enough to integrate easily into a wide range of devices. Even more importantly, Slamtec’s innovative system design makes it affordable for consumer and commercial applications.
You might think waterproofing a LiDAR is enough—but it’s not.
In water, traditional LiDARs face shortened detection range, noisy data, and poor accuracy, which is why sonar has remained the dominant tool for underwater detection. However, sonar lacks the precision required for SLAM-based underwater mapping and navigation.
The RPLIDAR U1 solves this challenge with a completely redesigned ranging system, enabling stable underwater LiDAR scanning.
Waterproof rating: IPX8 (up to 5 meters depth)
Maximum detection range underwater: 5 meters
With this breakthrough, underwater robots can now achieve the same high-precision mapping and navigation that LiDAR provides on land.
The underwater environment presents unique challenges:
Different water qualities
Reflective or absorbing surface materials
Strong sunlight interference
The RPLIDAR U1 has undergone extensive testing to ensure reliable performance under all these conditions. Whether it’s murky water, pool environments, or coastal zones, the U1 consistently delivers accurate and robust LiDAR scans.
To accelerate development, Slamtec also provides the SLAMKIT Underwater Edition, a dedicated mapping and navigation solution designed to work seamlessly with the RPLIDAR U1.
No odometry required
Supports real-time mapping, localization, and navigation
Ready for integration into underwater robotics projects
This ensures that developers and businesses can deploy underwater autonomous navigation solutions more efficiently than ever before.
The launch of RPLIDAR U1 opens up a wide range of consumer and commercial use cases:
Coastal vegetation exploration
Swimming pool cleaning robots
Underwater safety inspection & obstacle avoidance
Seabed exploration and research
With its compact size, affordability, and precision, the U1 brings LiDAR-based autonomy to underwater environments.
The RPLIDAR U1 is more than just a new sensor—it is the beginning of the consumer-grade underwater LiDAR era. By combining compact hardware, affordable pricing, and Slamtec’s proven SLAM technology, the U1 enables a new generation of underwater robots, drones, and exploration devices.
As the first of its kind, it will redefine how we map, navigate, and explore underwater worlds.
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