Mark Rober Uses ROCK LiDAR to Reveal Space Mountain's Secrets
Mar 15, 2025
In a recent video that pitted a LiDAR-equipped vehicle against a camera-only Tesla, science creator Mark Rober took LiDAR technology to a place it has never gone before: inside Disneyland's iconic Space Mountain. To achieve this feat, he used a portable ROCK R3 Pro LiDAR scanner, successfully creating a detailed 3D map of the legendary roller coaster's track, which has remained a mystery to the public for decades.
The Mission: Mapping in the Dark
For years, Rober dreamed of revealing the secret layout of Space Mountain, a ride that operates in near-total darkness. The mission required a compact, powerful, and portable mapping device. The ROCK R3 Pro, typically used for aerial and mobile surveying, was the perfect tool for the job.
In a "secret undercover operation," Rober concealed the R3 Pro and boarded the ride. The LiDAR scanner, firing 640,000 laser pulses per second, effortlessly mapped the entire coaster structure in the pitch-black environment. The infrared technology was invisible to the naked eye, allowing for a covert scan without disrupting the ride experience.
The Reveal: A Dream Come True
After processing the data in the ROCK Cloud, the full, intricate layout of Space Mountain was revealed for the first time. The resulting point cloud was so accurate that Rober was able to 3D print a stunningly detailed scale model of the entire ride, fulfilling a childhood dream.
The scan not only showed the coaster track but also provided fascinating insights into other Disney secrets, including how the Haunted Mansion ride building is a facade for a much larger show building located outside the park's berm.
LiDAR vs. Cameras: A Clear Winner
Rober's primary experiment was to test the limits of different autonomous vehicle sensors. In a series of creative, "Wile E. Coyote"-style tests, a vehicle equipped with LiDAR consistently outperformed a camera-only Tesla, especially in challenging conditions like fog, rain, and low light.
The LiDAR vehicle could "see" through obstructions and identify objects with precision, while the camera-based system struggled or failed entirely. These tests highlighted a key takeaway: while cameras are excellent for recognizing what objects are, LiDAR is superior at determining precisely where they are—a critical function for safe navigation.
How LiDAR Works
As explained in the video, LiDAR stands for Light Detection and Ranging. The ROCK R3 Pro works by sending out hundreds of thousands of laser pulses per second. It then measures the time it takes for those pulses to bounce off surrounding objects and return to the sensor. By calculating this "time-of-flight" at the speed of light, it creates a dense, three-dimensional "point cloud" of its environment with centimeter-level accuracy.
A Showcase of Versatility
Mark Rober's video is a testament to the power and versatility of modern LiDAR technology. From ensuring the safety of autonomous vehicles to revealing the secrets of beloved theme park attractions, the ROCK R3 Pro demonstrates that the applications for high-accuracy 3D mapping are truly limitless.