  This paper aims to introduce a method for simulating with a real time
performance the automotive LIDAR disturbance by dust clouds caused by natural
phenomena, mechanical or man-made processes like a traveling vehicle. In this
study, we are interested to study the interaction of an automotive LIDAR sensor
with a dust cloud composed of solid particles. The main objective of this study
is to provide a simulation model to industry and research laboratories that
help to study LIDAR performance in a dust-sand environment with the capability
to reproduce the encountered problems in degraded conditions and the ability to
parameterize the degradation model. Based on industrial projects with a
passenger's vehicles and truck manufacturers, we present LIDAR sensor and
functionalities to perceive objects in a scene (pedestrian, car, truck, ...) in
clear or extreme weather conditions. Simulated and experimental data are
compared and analyzed in this article. The features presented are evaluated
according to their quality for object detection. This study can be applied to
sensors post-processing algorithms (object recognition, tracking, data
fusion...) and even to the design of cleaning systems.
