A method of measuring the concentration of a gas in a target environment using a laser lidar system, comprises directing a laser beam towards an environment containing the gas, tuning the laser wavelength over a wavelength range including the absorption line of the gas, and measuring intensity of laser light returned from the environment containing the gas, as a result of scattering as a function of time. The intensity vs time is then converted into gas absorption vs wavelength, and the gas absorption vs wavelength is used to determine the concentration of the gas in the target environment.

A method of foreign object debris discrimination includes illuminating a particle located within a sensing volume with a modulated electromagnetic radiation pulse emitted from a source; receiving one or more electromagnetic radiation return signals that have been scattered by the particle illuminated by the modulated electromagnetic radiation pulse at a detector; mixing, using a controller, the electromagnetic radiation return signal of amplitude I.sub.RS and frequency f.sub.RS with a reference signal of amplitude I.sub.LS and frequency f.sub.RS; analyzing, using the controller, an amplitude of the mixed signal √{square root over (I.sub.LSI.sub.RS)}, and frequency of the mixed signal, f.sub.RS−f.sub.LS; and classifying, using the controller, a particle position, a velocity, and electromagnetic characteristic of the particle based on the amplitude, √{square root over (I.sub.LSI.sub.RS)}, and frequency, f.sub.RS−f.sub.LS of the mixed signal.

According to one embodiment, a position observation system includes a sensor and a processor. The sensor is arranged to face a first opening of a through hole included in a first target object. The sensor projects a light beam for scanning the through hole and receives reflection light of the light beam from a second target object that is to be inserted through a second opening of the through hole into the through hole. The processor including hardware. The processor generates an image based on the reflection light received by the sensor, and displays the image on a display device.

According to one embodiment, a position observation system includes a sensor and a processor. The sensor is arranged to face a first opening of a through hole included in a first target object. The sensor projects a light beam for scanning the through hole and receives reflection light of the light beam from a second target object that is to be inserted through a second opening of the through hole into the through hole. The processor including hardware. The processor generates an image based on the reflection light received by the sensor, and displays the image on a display device.

A contactless gate position sensor includes an optical time-of-flight sensor positioned within a predetermined proximity of a gate for detecting a closed position of the gate and an open position of the gate. The optical time-of-flight sensor has a predetermined field of view. When a predetermined portion of the gate is within the predetermined field of view, a status of the gate is set to a closed status. When the predetermined portion of the gate is outside the predetermined field of view, the status of the gate is set to an open status. The status is detected by the optical time-of-flight sensor and transmitted using a data communication network.

A contactless gate position sensor includes an optical time-of-flight sensor positioned within a predetermined proximity of a gate for detecting a closed position of the gate and an open position of the gate. The optical time-of-flight sensor has a predetermined field of view. When a predetermined portion of the gate is within the predetermined field of view, a status of the gate is set to a closed status. When the predetermined portion of the gate is outside the predetermined field of view, the status of the gate is set to an open status. The status is detected by the optical time-of-flight sensor and transmitted using a data communication network.

Method and apparatus for using light detection and ranging (LiDAR) to assist the visually impaired. In some embodiments, a LiDAR system is affixed to a selected finger of a user and used to emit light pulses within a field of view (FoV) before the user. Reflected pulses are detected to generate a point cloud representation of the FoV. A sensory input is provided to the user that describes the point cloud representation of the FoV. The sensory input may be haptic, auditory or some other form. In some cases, a glove is worn by the user and a separate LiDAR system is affixed to each finger portion of the glove to provide a composite scanning and detection operation. Preconfigured hand gestures by the user can be used to change the operational configuration of the system.

Method and apparatus for using light detection and ranging (LiDAR) to assist the visually impaired. In some embodiments, a LiDAR system is affixed to a selected finger of a user and used to emit light pulses within a field of view (FoV) before the user. Reflected pulses are detected to generate a point cloud representation of the FoV. A sensory input is provided to the user that describes the point cloud representation of the FoV. The sensory input may be haptic, auditory or some other form. In some cases, a glove is worn by the user and a separate LiDAR system is affixed to each finger portion of the glove to provide a composite scanning and detection operation. Preconfigured hand gestures by the user can be used to change the operational configuration of the system.

A horizontal correction method for a detection platform implemented in an electronic device includes controlling a laser device to emit laser to a plurality of points on a motion platform and calculates a height value of each of the plurality of points, calculating tilt data of the motion platform according to the height value of each of the plurality of points; determining position compensation data of the motion platform according to the tilt data; and controlling the motion platform to move according to the position compensation data, and adjusting a position of the motion platform to a horizontal position.

A horticultural luminaire includes a first and second horticultural light sources to provide growth lighting to a plant at a first and second wavelengths. A control unit provides first lighting control signals to the first horticultural light source to modulate the first growth lighting and provides second lighting control signals to the second horticultural light source to modulate the second growth lighting. A LiDAR sensor is connected to the lighting control unit to receive the first and second control signals, and having optics to detect reflected first and second growth lighting to determine the distance from plant to sensor and a biometric property of the plant from the received first and second control signals and detected first and second reflected second growth lighting. In some implementations the LiDAR sensor and first and second horticultural light sources are integrated into the horticultural luminaire.