A LIDAR sensor for detecting an object in the surroundings and a method of the LIDAR sensor includes a light source emitting electromagnetic radiation, a micromechanical deflection mirror deflecting the emitted electromagnetic radiation by at least one angle into the surroundings, and a mirror, which includes an aperture situated on a main beam axis of the light source, deflecting onto an optical receiver received electromagnetic radiation that has been reflected from the object.

A surveillance system for detecting an object within a monitored infrastructure and to a hybrid 3D surveying device, wherein a LiDAR device is configured that scanning is carried out with respect to two essentially orthogonal axes and wherein the LiDAR device comprises a cover mounted on the base, such that the base and the cover form an enclosure that encloses all moving parts of the LiDAR device, wherein the cover is configured to be opaque for visible light and translucent for the wavelength range of the LiDAR transmission radiation. The system further comprises a computing unit configured for processing the LiDAR measurement data to generate a 3D point cloud of the monitored infrastructure, and an object detector configured for classification of the object based on the 3D point cloud.

A vehicle, Lidar system and method of detecting an object is disclosed. The Lidar system includes a photonic chip having an aperture, one or more photodetectors and a circulator. A transmitted light beam generated within the photonic chip exits the photonic chip via the aperture and a reflected light beam enters the photonic chip via the aperture, the reflected light beam being a reflection of the transmitted light beam from the object. The one or more photodetectors measure the parameter of the object from at least the reflected light beam. The circulator integrated into the photonic chip directs the transmitted light beam toward the aperture and directs the reflected light beam from the aperture to the one or more photodetectors. A navigation system navigates the vehicle with respect to the object based on the parameter of the object.

An apparatus for adjusting a beam path for tracking an object includes an illumination unit to generate an illumination light beam, an optical unit with a beam expander optical unit and a beam deflection unit, the beam expander optical unit being configured to divergently expand the illumination light beam and the beam deflection unit being configured to deflect the illumination light beam spatially about two different axes of rotation, a detector unit to capture a light beam reflected by the object in response to an illumination by the illumination light beam and to generate a measurement signal, an evaluation and control unit to evaluate the measurement signal and configured to determine a manipulated variable for setting an effective focal length of the beam expander optical unit and/or for setting a spatial alignment of the beam deflection unit based on the information item in respect of the illumination of the object.

A surveying instrument include a distance measuring light projecting module having a light emitting module configured to project a distance measuring light to an object and a one-dimensional diffusion optical member configured to diffuse the distance measuring light in a one-dimensional direction, a distance measuring light receiving module having a photodetector configured to receive a reflected distance measuring light from the object, and an arithmetic control module configured to control the light emitting module and calculate a distance to the object based on a light reception result of the reflected distance measuring light with respect to the photodetector, wherein the light emitting module has at least two light emitters laminated in one direction, and the one-dimensional diffusion optical member is configured to diffuse the distance measuring light in a laminating direction of the light emitters.

Example implementations are provided for an arrangement of co-aligned rotating sensors. One example device includes a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) transmitter that emits light pulses toward a scene according to a pointing direction of the device. The device also includes a LIDAR receiver that detects reflections of the emitted light pulses reflecting from the scene. The device also includes an image sensor that captures an image of the scene based on at least external light originating from one or more external light sources. The device also includes a platform that supports the LIDAR transmitter, the LIDAR receiver, and the image sensor in a particular relative arrangement. The device also includes an actuator that rotates the platform about an axis to adjust the pointing direction of the device.

A railroad crossing obstacle detection system including: a laser radar device that includes an irradiator and a light receiver, the irradiator applying laser light at irradiation angles set every prescribed angle, and the light receiver receiving the laser light reflected; and a controller, wherein the laser radar device is configured to be supported by an object such that the laser radar device is located above a detection area of an obstacle in railroad crossing, and to apply the laser light from above to the detection area, and the controller is configured to detect an obstacle on the basis of measurement result representing a distance to an object having reflected the laser light, and an irradiation angle for the object; and monitor a change of at least one of a position or a direction of the laser radar device on the basis of the measurement result by the laser radar device.

A LIDAR system has one or more light splitters and multiple light combiners. The LIDAR system also has multiple optical pathways through which light signals travel. The optical pathways include delay pathways that each extends from one of the one or more splitters to one of the light combiners. The optical pathways include expedited pathways that each extends from one of the splitters to one of the light combiners. Each of the light combiners has one of the delay pathways and one of the expedited pathways extending to the light combiner. The delay pathways and the expedited pathways are configured such that the delay pathway to each light combiner is longer than the expedited pathway to the same light combiner. Each of the delay pathways has a common portion and a separated portion. The common portion of each delay pathway is shared by the other delay pathways. In contrast, the separated portion of a delay pathways is not shared with the other delay pathways.

Provided is a surveying instrument including a distance measuring light projecting module configured to include a light emitting module which projects a laser beam having a predetermined wavelength as a distance measuring light to an object, a distance measuring light receiving module configured to include a photodetector which receives a reflected distance measuring light from the object, and an arithmetic control module configured to control the light emitting module and to calculate a distance to the object based on a light reception result of the reflected distance measuring light with respect to the photodetector, in which the light emitting module is configured to include at least two light emitters, at least one of the light emitters is configured to project the distance measuring light, and each light emitter is configured in such a manner that the laser beam is substantially coaxially projected.

A light detection and ranging receiver includes a chassis and a first mirror assembly. The first mirror assembly includes a bracket detachably mounted on the chassis, a first mirror mount configured to hold a first mirror for receiving and deflecting a light beam to a photodetector, a first set of elastic connectors attached to both the bracket and the first mirror mount to couple the first mirror mount to the bracket, and a first set of screws extending through the bracket and in contact with the first mirror mount, where the first set of screws are adjustable to change a distance and an orientation of the first mirror mount with respect to the bracket.