Systems and methods for tracking a position of a rotating platform of a lidar system

A method performed in a LIDAR assembly comprising a first portion, a second portion, and a center rod extending between the first portion and the second portion, the center rod including a power cable connected to a printed circuit board located on the second portion, the method comprising:

• supplying, via the power cable, electrical power to the printed circuit board, thereby causing the second portion to rotate relative to the first portion;
• receiving, from a first sensor, as the first portion and the second portion rotate relative to one another, a first magnetic field measurement associated with a first magnetic field of a first magnet,
• wherein the first magnet is located on the second portion and arranged with a north pole of the first magnet facing a first direction,
• wherein a second magnet is located on the second portion and arranged with a south pole of the second magnet facing the first direction,
• wherein the first sensor is located on the first portion,
• wherein the first sensor is further configured to measure the first magnetic field of the first magnet and a second magnetic field of the second magnet as the first portion and the second portion rotates relative to one another;
• receiving, from the first sensor, a second magnetic field measurement associated with a second magnetic field of the second magnet;
• and
• calculating, by a processor, a position of the first sensor relative to the second portion based on the first magnetic field measurement and the second magnetic field measurement.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer-executable instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

• supplying, via a power cable within a center rod extending between a first portion and a second portion of a LIDAR assembly, electrical power to a printed circuit board located on the second portion, thereby causing the second portion to rotate relative to the first portion;
• receiving, from a first sensor, as the first portion and the second portion rotate relative to one another, a first magnetic field measurement associated with a first magnetic field of a first magnet,
• wherein the first magnet is located on the second portion and arranged with a north pole of the first magnet facing a first direction,
• wherein a second magnet is located on the second portion and arranged with a south pole of the second magnet facing the first direction,
• wherein the first sensor is located on the first portion,
• wherein the first sensor is further configured to measure the first magnetic field of the first magnet and a second magnetic field of the second magnet as the first portion and the second portion rotate relative to one another;
• receiving a second magnetic field measurement associated with the second magnetic field of the second magnet from the first sensor;
• and
• calculating a position of the first sensor relative to the second portion based on the first magnetic field measurement and the second magnetic field measurement.