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Application Note
VLP-16: Packet Structure & Timingwww.velodynelidar.com
Definition
 Definitions
• Firing Sequence
– The time and/or process of cycle-firing all the lasers in a VLP-16.
• Firing sequence = 55.296 µs to fire all 16 lasers

• Laser Channel
– A single 905 nm laser emitter and detector pair.
– Each laser is fixed at a particular elevation angle relative to the horizontal plane of the sensor.
– The elevation angle of a particular laser channel is given by its location in the data packet.

• Data Point (3 bytes) from a single firing from a laser

– Two (2) bytes of distance.
– One (1) byte of calibrated reflectivity.

• Data Block (100 bytes)

– Two-byte flag (xFFEE)
– Two-byte azimuth
– 32 Data Points (96 bytes)

• Data Packet
– 42 bytes of header
– 12x Data Blocks
– Four-byte timestamp
– Two-byte factory field

• Return Modes
– Strongest (Default) = The strongest (by light energy) return is reported
– Last = The last (temporally) return detected is reported
– Dual = Both the Strongest and Last returns are reported

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Single & Dual Returns

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Multiple Returns Explained I

• The footprint of the laser beam

increases as it gets farther from
the LiDAR sensor. This is known
as beam divergence.

• The beam divergence of the

VLP-16 is 3 mradians.
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Multiple Returns Explained II

FAR

NEAR

• When the entire beam hits the

first wall, a single return will be
reported.

• In this instance, the return is

both the strongest and last
return.
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Multiple Returns Explained III
FAR

NEAR

Last Return

Strongest Return

• If the beam were to be split

between two or more objects then
there will be multiple returns.

• In this example, the VLP-16 will

report the strongest and last return.
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Multiple Returns Explained IV
FAR

NEAR

Last Return &

Strongest Return

Second Strongest
Return

• In this example, the strongest

return is also the last return,
so the VLP-16 will report the
last and second strongest
return. 7

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Multiple Returns: Forestry Application

• In aerial LiDAR surveys, the last return is used to identify the ground.
• The other returns come from the tree as the beam traverses
through all the tree branches.
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 Dual Returns in VeloView

Last Return
Solid Surface

Strongest or
2nd Strongest Return
Transparent Curtain

Actual View of VeloView Capture

Beam Split by Edge of Loading Dock

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Packet Structures

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 VLP-16 Packet Structure
• The information from 2 Firing Sequences of 16
lasers is contained in one (1) Data Block.
• Each packet contains the data from 24 Firing
Sequences.
• Only a single azimuth is returned per Data Block.
• If Dual Return mode is enabled, twice as many
packets are returned.
– Throughput increases from ∼8.6 Mbps to ∼17.2 Mbps.
• Each Firing Sequence time is 55.296 µs to fire all 16
lasers.
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VLP-16 Vertical Angle Mapping per Laser Channel

• The channel number maps to the

vertical angle in degrees relative to
the horizontal plane of the VLP-16.

• To find the elevation point of a

specific laser, your software should
use the channel number as an index
into the lookup table to the right.

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VLP-16

Data Block Structure in Single Return Mode

User can select1248Strongest
bytes or Last Return

42 Bytes 12*(2 bytes flag+2 bytes azimuth+32*(2 bytes distance + 1 byte reflectivity)) = 1200 bytes 4 + 2 = 6 bytes

Header Data Block 1 Data Block 2 Data Block 3 Data Block 4 Data Block 11 Data Block 12 Timestamp Factory

42 Bytes Flag xFFEE Flag xFFEE Flag xFFEE Flag xFFEE Flag xFFEE Flag xFFEE Four Bytes 2 Bytes

Azimuth N Azimuth N+2 Azimuth N+4 Azimuth N+6 Azimuth N+20 Azimuth N+22

Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data
Timestamp:
Microseconds since
Channel 1 Data Channel 1 Data Channel 1 Data Channel 1 Data Channel 1 Data Channel 1 Data top of the hour
(synced w GPS every sec).
Represents the time of
Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data the first firing of the first
Channels Channels Channels Channels Channels Channels firing sequence.
2 - 13 Data 2 - 13 Data 2 - 13 Data 2 - 13 Data 2 - 13 Data 2 - 13 Data
Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data

Channel 14 Data Channel 14

Channel 0 Data
Data Channel 14
Channel 0 Data
Data Channel 14
Channel 0 Data
Data Channel 14
Channel 0 Data
Data Channel
Channel 14
0 Data
Data

Channel 15 Data Channel 15

Channel 0 Data
Data Channel 15
Channel 0 Data
Data Channel 15
Channel 0 Data
Data Channel 15
Channel 0 Data
Data Channel
Channel 15
0 Data
Data
Channels Channels Channels Channels Channels
12-29 Data 12-29 Data 12-29 Data
Azimuth Channel
12-29 Data 12-29 Data
Channel 00 Data Channel
Channel 00 Data
Data Channel
Channel 00 Data
Data
N+1 is not Channel 0 Data Data Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data

explicitly
reported. Channel 1 Data
Channel
Channel 0
1 Data
Data Channel
Channel 0
1 Data
Data Channel
Channel 0
1 Data
Data Channel 0
1 Data Channel 0
1 Data
The user must
interpolate the
Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data
azimuth for the Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data
second firing Channels Channels Channels Channels
2 - 13 Data
Channels Channels
2 - 13 Data 2 - 13 Data 2 - 13 Data 2 - 13 Data 2 - 13 Data
sequence in Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data
Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data
each data
block. 13
Channel 30 Data Channel 30 Data Channel
Channel 30
14 Data
Data
Channel 14 Data Channel 14 Data Channel 14 Data Channel 30
14 Data Channel 30
14 Data

Channel 31 Data Channel 31 Data Channel 31 Data

Channel 15 Data Channel 15 Data Channel 15 Data Channel 15 Data Channel 31
15 Data Channel 31
15 Data
VLP-16

Use of Factory Bytes

1248 bytes

42 Bytes 12*(2 bytes flag+2 bytes azimuth+32*(2 bytes distance + 1 byte reflectivity)) = 1200 bytes 4 + 2 = 6 bytes

Header Data Block 1 Data Block 2 Data Block 3 Data Block 4 Data Block 11 Data Block 12 Timestamp Factory

42 Bytes Flag xFFEE Flag xFFEE Flag xFFEE Flag xFFEE Flag xFFEE Flag xFFEE Four Bytes 2 Bytes

Azimuth N Azimuth N+2 Azimuth N+4 Azimuth N+6 Azimuth N+20 Azimuth N+22

Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data

Channel 1 Data Channel 1 Data Channel 1 Data Channel 1 Data Channel 1 Data Channel 1 Data
Field 4DEh Field 4DFh

Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data Value ChannelMeaning
0 Data Channel 0Value
Data Meaning
Channels Channels Channels Channels Channels Channels
2 - 13 Data 2 - 13 Data 2 - 13 Data
2 - 13 Data 37h 2 Strongest
- 13 Data Return 21h
2 - 13 Data HDL-32E
Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data

38h Last Return 22h VLP-16

Channel 14 Data Channel 14
Channel 0 Data
Data Channel 14
Channel 0 Data
Data Channel 14
Channel 0 Data
Data Channel 14
Channel 0 Data
Data Channel
Channel 14
0 Data
Data
39h Dual Return

Channel 15 Data Channel 15

Channel 0 Data
Data Channel 15
Channel 0 Data
Data Channel 15
Channel 0 Data
Data Channel 15
Channel 0 Data
Data Channel
Channel 15
0 Data
Data
Channels Channels Channels Channels Channels
12-29 Data 12-29 Data 12-29 Data 12-29 Data 12-29 Data
Channel 0 Data Channel
Channel 00 Data
Data Channel
Channel 00 Data
Data Channel
Channel 00 Data
Data Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data

Channel
Channel 0
1 Data
Data Channel
Channel 0
1 Data
Data Channel
Channel 0
1 Data
Data
Channel 1 Data Channel 0
1 Data Channel 0
1 Data

Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data

Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data
Channels Channels Channels Channels Channels Channels
2 - 13 Data 2 - 13 Data 2 - 13 Data 2 - 13 Data 2 - 13 Data 2 - 13 Data
Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data
Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data Channel 0 Data

14
Channel 30 Data Channel 30 Data Channel
Channel 30
14 Data
Data
Channel 14 Data Channel 14 Data Channel 14 Data Channel 30
14 Data Channel 30
14 Data

Channel 31 Data Channel 31 Data Channel 31 Data

Channel 15 Data Channel 15 Data Channel 15 Data Channel 15 Data Channel 31
15 Data Channel 31
15 Data
VLP-16

Data Block Structure

Ford in Dual Return Mode
Motor Company
Data Blocks Alternate Between Last and Strongest (or 2nd Strongest) Return

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VLP-16

Interpolation of Azimuths
• Consider a single data packet.

• The time between the 1st Firing Sequence of the 1st set
of 16 lasers firing and the 1st Firing Sequence of the 3rd
set of 16 lasers firing is ∼110.6 µs.

• If you assume the rotation speed over that short time

interval is constant, then you can assume the azimuth
of the (N+1) set of 16 laser firings is halfway between
the azimuth reported with the Nth set of 16 laser firings
and the azimuth reported with the (N+2) set of laser
firings.
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VLP-16

Example of Interpolation of Azimuth

• Below is pseudo code that performs the interpolation.
• The code checks to see if the azimuth rolled over from the 359.9° to 0°
between firing sets N and N+2. In the example below, N = 1.
If (Azimuth[3] < Azimuth[1])
Then Azimuth[3]:= Azimuth[3]+360°;// Adjust for a rollover from 359.99° to 0
Endif;

Azimuth[2]:=Azimuth[1]+( (Azimuth[3]-Azimuth[1])/2 ); // Interpolation

If (Azimuth[2]>360)
Then Azimuth[2]:= Azimuth[2]-360°; // Correct for any rollover over from 359.99° to 0
Endif

Round(Azimuth[2], 2 decimal places); // User might to round or truncate the computed azimuth

Example: 0°
359.8° 3.0° 6.2°
Figure not to scale
N+1, in green,
is the interpolated value

Azimuth 1 Azimuth 2 Azimuth 3

(N) (N+1) (N+2) 17

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Precise Data Point Timing

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VLP-16

Precision Data Point Timing

• Each packet has one timestamp representing the first
firing of the packet.
• For increased accuracy, you can calculate a timestamp
for each individual laser firing.
• Remember, the data points in each block are recorded
in the order which the lasers are fired.
• In Dual Return Mode, the computed timestamps for
the corresponding strongest and last returns are equal.

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VLP-16

Data TimingCompany
Ford Motor Breakdown
• Single VLP-16 Firing Sequence (16 lasers) = 55.296 µs.

• The 55.296 µs sequence time breaks down as:

– tSEQUENCE = (16 · 2.304 µs) + 18.432 µs [recharge cycle]

• The time to accumulate one data packet is:

– tDATA_PACKET = 55.296 µs/data block · 24 data blocks/packet
= 1.327 ms/packet

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VLP-16

Calculating
Ford Motorthe Time Offset
Company
• Step 1:
– Number the data points in the firing sequence 0 to 15 (Data Point
Index).
– Remember:
• There are 2 Firing Sequences per Data Block.
• 24 Firing Sequences per packet.
– Number the Firing Sequences 0 to 23 (Sequence Index)

• Time Offset = (55.296 µs · Sequence Index) + (2.304 µs · Data

Point Index)

• Example:
– Time Offset = (55.296 µs · 23) + (2.304 µs · 15)
= 1,306.37 µs
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VLP-16

TimingFord
Offset Calculation
Motor Company in VLP-16

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 Thank You!

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