OLEI Laser / Camera (LR-1BS2)

A mobile robot only moves as confidently as it can see. On a crowded warehouse floor, where pallets, people and other vehicles change position every minute, the sensor that watches the path ahead decides whether a fleet runs smoothly or stops at every shadow. The OLEI Laser / Camera (LR-1BS2) is built for that job. It is a compact 2D LiDAR that sweeps a 270° field around the front of a vehicle or machine, measures distance by time of flight and reports what it finds as point cloud data or as simple switching signals a PLC can act on directly.

Robots Europa, based in Dublin, supplies the OLEI Laser / Camera (LR-1BS2) to integrators, machine builders and robotics teams across the EU and the DACH region. Robots Europa prepares each quotation to the project in question, arranges delivery to the installation site and remains the point of contact for technical questions once the sensor is in service.

Background

OLEI and the robot-building range

OLEI is the brand under which the LR-1BS2 is produced, and the sensor appears within the SEER Robotics robot-building range that Robots Europa offers alongside its logistics robots and factory robots. OLEI positions the LR-1BS2 as an obstacle avoidance LiDAR with excellent cost performance: a sensor intended to be fitted in volume, on many vehicles or many machines, rather than a single premium instrument for one demanding application. The sources also name a related version, the LR-1BS2H, within the same LR-1BS2 family.

Time-of-flight sensing in a 270° sweep

The LR-1BS2 measures distance using the time-of-flight principle. In general terms, a laser pulse is emitted, reflected by an object and received again; the elapsed time gives the distance to that object. A rotating or scanning arrangement repeats the measurement across the field of view, building a two-dimensional outline of the surroundings at the height of the scan plane. A 270° field matters in practice because a sensor mounted on the corner or front of a vehicle can watch both the direction of travel and the flanks, which is where many near misses with people and racking occur. The LR-1BS2 combines this sweep with configurable protection zones, so the same device can serve as a navigation aid and as an area monitor.

Technical Specifications

Specifications are as published by the manufacturer and are confirmed against the datasheet at quotation.

The manufacturer has not published the weight, the dimensions, the power consumption, the scanning frequency, the measurement range by reflectivity, the operating temperature or the contents of the box; Robots Europa confirms these at quotation.

How far can the OLEI LR-1BS2 detect obstacles?

Two figures circulate for the LR-1BS2, and a buyer should understand both before planning a layout. OLEI's own product page describes the sensor as suitable for obstacle avoidance and safety area protection, with detection capability up to 20m. The LR-1BS2 Series specification listed by a distributor gives a range of 10 m. The two statements describe the series in different terms, so protection fields and approach speeds are best planned conservatively around the lower figure.

For most obstacle avoidance tasks, the detection distance is only part of the picture. A vehicle travelling through aisles needs to recognise an obstacle early enough to slow down, and then close enough to stop safely; the 270° field and an angular resolution of 0.225° determine how finely the sensor separates narrow objects such as table legs, pallet corners or a person's ankles across that sweep. The ±1° horizontal angle accuracy describes how precisely each measured point is placed in direction. Together these figures define how well the LR-1BS2 maps the space immediately around a robot, which is where avoidance decisions are taken.

How do the protection zones and outputs work?

The LR-1BS2 lets the integrator set the safe area freely and organises its protection in 16 banks with 3 levels. In practical terms, that gives a machine builder a set of zone configurations that can be switched according to the situation, for example a different field when a vehicle is travelling straight, turning or docking, and graduated levels within each configuration, typically used to warn, slow and stop. Because the safe area is freely defined rather than fixed to a standard shape, the zones can follow the geometry of a vehicle or the outline of a work cell.

The sensor reports its findings in two ways. Switching outputs allow a PLC to react to a zone violation without processing any measurement data, which keeps simple installations simple; each output port should carry no more than 20mA. At the same time, point cloud data is available over the RJ-45 Ethernet interface, so a navigation computer can use the full scan for mapping, localisation or more refined avoidance logic. The distributor listing also notes that an analog zone alarm is available for the series. Power and the input/output signals run through the 2-metre Power/IO cable, with a separate Ethernet connection for data and configuration.

One point deserves attention during project planning: the sources describe obstacle avoidance and safety area protection, but they do not state a functional safety rating for the sensor. Where a risk assessment calls for a certified safety device, please raise this in your request so that Robots Europa can advise on the applicable standard.

Who is the OLEI Laser / Camera (LR-1BS2) for?

The first group is builders of autonomous mobile robots and automated guided vehicles, who need dependable obstacle detection on every vehicle in a fleet and therefore value a sensor positioned on cost performance. The combination of point cloud output for the navigation computer and switching outputs for the vehicle controller suits these designs particularly well.

The second group is machine builders and system integrators in industrial automation, who monitor the area around a machine, a conveyor transfer or a robot cell and want zone signals delivered straight to a PLC. Freely configurable areas and multiple banks allow one sensor type to cover several cell layouts.

The third group comprises integrators in security and intelligent logistics, where the LR-1BS2 can watch a defined area and report intrusions, or track movement around docks and transfer points.

Research groups and development teams form a fourth segment: the Ethernet point cloud makes the sensor a practical source of scan data for prototyping navigation software. Buyers comparing other members of the OLEI range can also consult the OLEI Laser / Camera (LR-1BS5H); Robots Europa will advise which model fits the application once the requirements are known.

What is the OLEI Laser / Camera (LR-1BS2) used for?

1. Mobile robot obstacle avoidance – scanning the path and flanks of an autonomous mobile robot so it can slow or stop before contact.
2. AGV area protection – switching between zone banks as a guided vehicle travels, turns or docks.
3. Machine and cell monitoring – reporting entry into a freely defined area around industrial equipment directly to a PLC.
4. Security surveillance – watching a defined zone and signalling intrusions to an alarm or control system.
5. Intelligent logistics – supporting automated handling at aisles, docks and transfer points in warehouses.
6. Navigation development – supplying point cloud data over Ethernet for mapping and localisation software.

Pricing and Availability

Robots Europa supplies the OLEI Laser / Camera (LR-1BS2) on a quotation basis, so that each offer reflects the configuration, the protection class and the quantity a project actually needs. Delivery, customs and technical support are arranged together with the quotation. To begin, please describe the vehicle or machine, the area to be monitored and the intended control architecture; the request form is available on this page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of sensor is the LR-1BS2?

It is a 2D 270° obstacle avoidance LiDAR sensor that measures distance using the time-of-flight principle. It is designed for mobile obstacle avoidance and safe area protection.

What detection distance should I plan for?

OLEI's product page states detection capability up to 20m, while the LR-1BS2 Series specification on a distributor listing gives a range of 10 m. Planning protection fields around the lower figure is the prudent approach.

How many protection zones can be configured?

The safe area can be set freely, with 16 banks and 3 levels of protection. This allows different zone sets for different operating situations.

How does the sensor connect to a PLC or computer?

Switching outputs run through the 2-metre Power/IO cable for direct PLC use, with each output port limited to 20mA. Point cloud data is delivered to a computer through the RJ-45 Ethernet interface.

Which certifications does the LR-1BS2 carry?

The manufacturer lists FCC, EMC, CE, RoHS, REACH and FDA. The protection class is IP65 or optional.

What is the LR-1BS2H?

The LR-1BS2H is a further version named within the LR-1BS2 family. The sources do not publish separate figures for it, so please mention it in your request if it is of interest.

Where can I buy the OLEI Laser / Camera (LR-1BS2) and what does it cost?

Robots Europa supplies the sensor across the EU and the DACH region. Prices are quoted individually to each project, so please request a quotation through this page.

Summary

A fleet or a machine cell is only as dependable as the sensor watching its surroundings, and the OLEI Laser / Camera (LR-1BS2) addresses that need with a 270° time-of-flight scan, freely configurable protection zones in 16 banks and 3 levels, and a choice between PLC switching outputs and Ethernet point cloud data. Positioned by OLEI on cost performance, it suits projects that fit sensors in numbers, from mobile robots to monitored work cells. For a quotation prepared around your vehicles, machines and site, this page is the starting point.