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Ranging Precision Comparison of Direct and Non-Line-of-Sight LiDAR Systems Based on SNSPD
This paper compares the ranging precision of direct time-of-flight (dToF) and non-line-of-sight (NLOS) LiDAR architectures, both using a superconducting nanowire single-photon detector (SNSPD). Both systems operate at 1550 nm with a 50 ps pulsed laser and time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC). The dToF configuration achieved approximately 100 µm precision at 10 m, while the NLOS configuration achieved 500 µm precision for a hidden object 0.5 m behind a reflecting wall. The comparison shows that dToF provides superior precision due to the direct optical path, whereas NLOS suffers from additional temporal spread caused by multiple scattering. These results provide quantitative guidance for selecting the appropriate architecture based on application requirements.