A LIDAR system includes a reference light source configured to generate an outgoing light signal that includes multiple reference channels that each has a different frequency. The system also includes a comparative light source configured to generate an outgoing light signal that includes multiple comparative channels. Each of the comparative channels has a different frequency. The comparative channels are each associated with one of the reference channels in that LIDAR data is generated for a sample region on a field of view using a comparative channel and the associated reference channel. The comparative channel and the associated reference channel have different frequencies.

A laser measuring system is provided by combining N-beams, angle based modulation and a laser receiver and laser transmitter configured with corner reflectors for signal shift measuring to facilitate full three dimensional positioning.

A system for registering a target includes a first sensor, a second sensor, and a processor. The first sensor measures a plurality of ranges from a source to a target, and the second sensor obtains a plurality of location measurements of the source. The system further includes a processor configured for determining one or more weighting criteria associated with each one of the plurality of location measurements based on an estimated reliability of each one of the plurality of location measurements. The processor calculates a plurality of target location values based on the plurality of ranges measured by the first sensor and the plurality of locations measured by the second sensor and calculates an estimated target location value based on the plurality of target location values weighted according to the weighting criteria.

A lidar receiver can employ multiple readout channels that are capable of simultaneously reading out sensed signals from different pixel sets of a photodetector array in order to detect different returns from different laser pulse shots. In doing so, the lidar receiver can support the use of overlapping detection intervals when collecting signal data for detecting the different returns from the different laser pulse shots.

Systems and methods use LIDAR technology to, for example detect objects in an environment. In one implementation, an electro-optical system for scanning illumination onto a field of view that may be used in a LIDAR system, the electro-optical system includes a light source, a scanning unit having a light deflector arranged at a desired height for deflecting light from the at least one light source, at least one actuator for controlling an orientation of the light deflector, and at least two sensors configured to measure respective measuring values correlated with a height of the at least one light deflector in the scanning unit and an orientation of the at least one light deflector, and a control unit connected with the at least two sensors. The control unit is configured to receive for a given time a respective measuring value from each of the at least two sensors, to determine for the given time a first value indicative of an actual height and a second value indicative of an actual orientation of the light deflector as output of a model of the scanning unit using the measuring values as input of the model of the scanning unit, and to determine an actuation parameter for the at least one actuator using the first value and second value.

Systems and methods may detect an object within a minimum predetermined distance of a LIDAR system. The LIDAR system may comprise a processor configured to control a light source and a light deflector to illuminate objects located in a space illuminated by the light source; determine a distance to a first object based located within a field of view of a LIDAR sensor; receive, from a supplementary sensor, reflection signals indicative of light reflected from a second object outside the field of view; determine, based on the second reflection signals that the second object is located within a predetermined distance; and regulate, based on the determination, at least one of the light source and the light deflector to prevent an accumulated energy density of light emitted by the light source from exceeding a maximum permissible exposure level.

A target detection system includes a receiving apparatus separated from a transmitting apparatus configured to transmit inspection light and reference light. The receiving apparatus includes a photodetector, a scattered light processor, and a target detector. The photodetector is configured to receive light and detect scattered light and the reference light from the received light. The scattered light is scattered in a transmission path of the inspection light. The target detector is configured to perform target position determination. The target position determination determines, as a position of a target, a position, on the transmission path, corresponding to a first-transition time. The first-transition time is a time at which intensity of the scattered light becomes equal to or smaller than a first transition. The target position determination is performed on the basis of a time difference between the first-transition time and a reception time of the reference light.

The present invention discloses a multi-excitation wavelength spectrometer fluorescence laser radar system, including a multi-wavelength laser emission system, a signal frequency division system and a data storage and display system. The present invention emits lasers with a plurality of wavelengths into the atmosphere simultaneously to alternately excite an organic matter in atmospheric particulate matters and obtain a fluorescence spectrum. The lasers with different wavelengths can excite the same organic matter to obtain different spectra. By analyzing a matrix diagram of each excitation and emission fluorescence spectrum, the present invention effectively explores the features of compositions and concentration of the organic matter in the atmospheric particulate matters.

Vehicle-based distributed LIDAR apparatuses and methods. These apparatuses may include coherent fiber optic image bundles (CFOBs) that transfer laser reflections from several fields of view (FOVs) around the vehicle to a shared remotely located detector array, thereby enabling correlation of the original reflection directions with fiber locations within a bundle. These apparatuses may operate with a remotely located mirror (e.g. a convex roadside mirror); the apparatus and methods can track the mirror region as it moves in the local environment with an increased density of outgoing laser pulses and thereby interrogate the remote mirror for reflection data from a wide indirect field of view.

A sensor which is configured to transmit electromagnetic waves towards a target, wherein the sensor is operable to detect, in response to the electromagnetic waves, first electromagnetic waves reflected by the target towards the sensor, second electromagnetic waves received by at least one redirecting device from the target and redirected by the redirecting device towards the sensor, wherein the first and second electromagnetic waves are usable to determine data representative of at least one of a position and a velocity of the target.