The LiDAR sensor on your iPhone could soon let you see around corners

MIT Media Lab researchers showed that smartphone-grade LiDAR can infer objects hidden around corners from noisy light readings and motion cues.

The system estimated hidden object motion, rough shape, and even multiple targets outside the camera’s direct line of sight.

Researchers also demonstrated robot self-localization using unseen landmarks, pointing to new uses in robotics and navigation.

The findings suggest consumer LiDAR in devices like iPhone and iPad Pro could improve safer autonomy and awareness beyond direct vision.