# Using the Slamtec RPLIDAR on a Raspberry Pi ## Overview ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/073/396/medium800/sensors_all-together.jpg?1553031066) LIDAR is all the range\*. It's one of the fundamental sensing technologies of autonomous vehicles. It gives a system the ability to see how far away things are 360 degrees around it. We used the Garmin LIDAR range finder in [another guide](https://learn.adafruit.com/garmin-lidar-lite-range-finder). It works by sending out a pulse of modulated laser light which bounces off whatever it's aimed at and is read by an optical receiver. The time that takes is a measure of distance to the surface it bounced off of. While being very cool and very effective technology, it just looks in one direction. You could mount it on a stepper motor and repeatedly rotate and take a reading. Or you could use a 360 degree LIDAR system like the RPLIDAR from Slamtec. * See what I did there? ## Parts ### Slamtec RPLIDAR A1 - 360 Laser Range Scanner [Slamtec RPLIDAR A1 - 360 Laser Range Scanner](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4010) Is your favorite robot currently in a mid-life crisis? Does it need a new purpose or perhaps, _direction? _ Well now you can find your way with the affordable and easy to use **Slamtec RPLIDAR A1** You may have heard of LIDARs when people talk about... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4010) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4010/guides) ![Close shot of lamtec RPLIDAR A1 - 360 Laser Range Scanner](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/4010-07.jpg) ### Raspberry Pi 3 - Model B+ - 1.4GHz Cortex-A53 with 1GB RAM [Raspberry Pi 3 - Model B+ - 1.4GHz Cortex-A53 with 1GB RAM](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3775) The Raspberry Pi 3 Model B is the most popular Raspberry Pi computer made, and the Pi Foundation knows you can always make a good thing _better_! And what could make the Pi 3 better? How about a _faster_ processor, 5 GHz WiFi, and updated Ethernet chip with PoE capability?... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3775) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3775/guides) ![Angled shot of Raspberry Pi 3 - Model B+](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/3775-11.jpg) ### Adafruit PiTFT - 320x240 2.8" TFT+Touchscreen for Raspberry Pi [Adafruit PiTFT - 320x240 2.8" TFT+Touchscreen for Raspberry Pi](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1601) Is this not the cutest little display for the Raspberry Pi? It features a 2.8" display with 320x240 16-bit color pixels and a resistive touch overlay. The plate uses the high speed SPI interface on the Pi and can use the mini display as a console, X window port, displaying images or video... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1601) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1601/guides) ![320x240 2.8 inch TFT and Touchscreen installed on Raspberry Pi with desktop showing](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/1601-00.jpg) ### USB cable - USB A to Micro-B [USB cable - USB A to Micro-B](https://www.adafruit.com/product/592) This here is your standard A to micro-B USB cable, for USB 1.1 or 2.0. Perfect for connecting a PC to your Metro, Feather, Raspberry Pi or other dev-board or microcontroller Approximately 3 feet / 1 meter long Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/592) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/592/guides) ![USB cable - USB A to Micro-B - 3 foot long](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/592-01.jpg) ### 5V 2.5A Switching Power Supply with 20AWG MicroUSB Cable [5V 2.5A Switching Power Supply with 20AWG MicroUSB Cable](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1995) Our all-in-one 5V 2.5 Amp + MicroUSB cable power adapter is the perfect choice for powering single-board computers like Raspberry Pi, BeagleBone, or anything else that's power-hungry! This adapter was specifically designed to provide 5.25V, not 5V, but we still call it a 5V USB... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1995) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1995/guides) ![MicroUSB power supply with bundled cable and U.S. plugs.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/1995-02.jpg) - [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/slamtec-rplidar-on-pi/360-degree-lidar.md) ## Featured Products ### Slamtec RPLIDAR A1 - 360 Laser Range Scanner [Slamtec RPLIDAR A1 - 360 Laser Range Scanner](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4010) Is your favorite robot currently in a mid-life crisis? Does it need a new purpose or perhaps, _direction? _ Well now you can find your way with the affordable and easy to use **Slamtec RPLIDAR A1** You may have heard of LIDARs when people talk about... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4010) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4010/guides) ### Raspberry Pi 3 - Model B+ - 1.4GHz Cortex-A53 with 1GB RAM [Raspberry Pi 3 - Model B+ - 1.4GHz Cortex-A53 with 1GB RAM](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3775) The Raspberry Pi 3 Model B is the most popular Raspberry Pi computer made, and the Pi Foundation knows you can always make a good thing _better_! And what could make the Pi 3 better? How about a _faster_ processor, 5 GHz WiFi, and updated Ethernet chip with PoE capability?... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3775) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3775/guides) ### Adafruit PiTFT - 320x240 2.8" TFT+Touchscreen for Raspberry Pi [Adafruit PiTFT - 320x240 2.8" TFT+Touchscreen for Raspberry Pi](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1601) Is this not the cutest little display for the Raspberry Pi? It features a 2.8" display with 320x240 16-bit color pixels and a resistive touch overlay. The plate uses the high speed SPI interface on the Pi and can use the mini display as a console, X window port, displaying images or video... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1601) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1601/guides) ### USB cable - USB A to Micro-B [USB cable - USB A to Micro-B](https://www.adafruit.com/product/592) This here is your standard A to micro-B USB cable, for USB 1.1 or 2.0. Perfect for connecting a PC to your Metro, Feather, Raspberry Pi or other dev-board or microcontroller Approximately 3 feet / 1 meter long Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/592) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/592/guides) ### 5V 2.5A Switching Power Supply with 20AWG MicroUSB Cable [5V 2.5A Switching Power Supply with 20AWG MicroUSB Cable](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1995) Our all-in-one 5V 2.5 Amp + MicroUSB cable power adapter is the perfect choice for powering single-board computers like Raspberry Pi, BeagleBone, or anything else that's power-hungry! This adapter was specifically designed to provide 5.25V, not 5V, but we still call it a 5V USB... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1995) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1995/guides) ## Related Guides - [SnapPiCam Raspberry Pi Camera](https://learn.adafruit.com/snappicam-raspberry-pi-camera.md) - [Processing on the Raspberry Pi & PiTFT](https://learn.adafruit.com/processing-on-the-raspberry-pi-and-pitft.md) - [RasPipe: A Raspberry Pi Pipeline Viewer, Part 1](https://learn.adafruit.com/raspipe-a-raspberry-pi-pipeline-viewer.md) - [RasPipe: A Raspberry Pi Pipeline Viewer, Part 2](https://learn.adafruit.com/raspipe-a-raspberry-pi-pipeline-viewer-part-2.md) - [PiPhone - A Raspberry Pi based Cellphone](https://learn.adafruit.com/piphone-a-raspberry-pi-based-cellphone.md) - [Monitor PiCam and temperature on a PiTFT via adafruit.io](https://learn.adafruit.com/monitor-picam-and-temperature-on-a-pitft-via-adafruit-dot-io.md) - [AstroPrint 3D Printing](https://learn.adafruit.com/astroprint-3d-printing.md) - [DIY WiFi Raspberry Pi Touchscreen Camera](https://learn.adafruit.com/diy-wifi-raspberry-pi-touch-cam.md) - [Running OpenGL-based Games & Emulators on Adafruit PiTFT Displays](https://learn.adafruit.com/running-opengl-based-games-and-emulators-on-adafruit-pitft-displays.md) - [Raspberry Pi radio player with touchscreen](https://learn.adafruit.com/raspberry-pi-radio-player-with-touchscreen.md) - [RasPi - Animated GIF Picture Frame](https://learn.adafruit.com/raspi-animated-gif-picture-frame.md) - [apt.adafruit.com](https://learn.adafruit.com/apt-adafruit-com.md) - [Cupcade: the Raspberry Pi Micro Arcade Cabinet](https://learn.adafruit.com/cupcade-raspberry-pi-micro-mini-arcade-game-cabinet.md) - [Touchscreen Pi Timelapse Controller](https://learn.adafruit.com/touchscreen-pi-timelapse-controller.md) - [Mini Mac Pi](https://learn.adafruit.com/mini-mac-pi.md)