How does LIDAR see the world in three dimensions?

The answer

LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) works by emitting rapid pulses of laser light - up to millions per second - and measuring the time each pulse takes to bounce back from a surface. By recording the return time and angle of each pulse, it creates detailed 3D point clouds of the surrounding environment. LIDAR is critical for self-driving cars, archaeological discovery (it revealed hidden Maya cities beneath Central American jungle canopy), topographic mapping, and atmospheric research. Apple's iPhone Pro models have included LIDAR sensors since 2020.