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building a laser rangefiner

M

Mike Noone

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hi - does anybody here have any experience with building a laser
rangefinder? For a very small robotic application I am trying to figure out
a good way to do object detection and avoidance. Sonar is a common choice
for this application but I'm not too keen on it for various reasons. Is
building a laser rangefinder feasible? I am slightly worried, due to the
incredible speed of light. Any pointers? Projects? Anything? Thanks!

-Mike Noone
 
Mike said:
Hi - does anybody here have any experience with building a laser
rangefinder? For a very small robotic application I am trying to figure out
a good way to do object detection and avoidance. Sonar is a common choice
for this application but I'm not too keen on it for various reasons. Is
building a laser rangefinder feasible? I am slightly worried, due to the
incredible speed of light. Any pointers? Projects? Anything? Thanks!

You can evade the problems with the (perfectly credible) speed of light
by modulating your laser beam - search on the HP Tellurometer, which
used the technique with microwaves, way back when I was at school.

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/laserlia.htm#liarfi3
 
G

GregS

Jan 1, 1970
0
You can evade the problems with the (perfectly credible) speed of light
by modulating your laser beam - search on the HP Tellurometer, which
used the technique with microwaves, way back when I was at school.

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/laserlia.htm#liarfi3

There are also radio rangefinders using this. You can use more
than one tone to range different distances. Doppler can even keep
track of everything, once basic range is determined.

greg
 
Mike said:
Hi - does anybody here have any experience with building a laser
rangefinder? For a very small robotic application I am trying to figure out
a good way to do object detection and avoidance. Sonar is a common choice
for this application but I'm not too keen on it for various reasons. Is
building a laser rangefinder feasible? I am slightly worried, due to the
incredible speed of light. Any pointers? Projects? Anything? Thanks!

-Mike Noone

Building a laser rangefinder is very dificult especially a short range
one.
 
D

Dan Major

Jan 1, 1970
0
The most straightforeward laser range finder for short distances uses
converging beams from two sources. When the beams strike a surface, the
distance between the spots is proportional to the distance to the surface.
Use IR lasers and appropriate filters on the camera to increase contrast
and make it easier to see the spots.
 
P

Paul Hovnanian P.E.

Jan 1, 1970
0
Mike said:
Hi - does anybody here have any experience with building a laser
rangefinder? For a very small robotic application I am trying to figure out
a good way to do object detection and avoidance. Sonar is a common choice
for this application but I'm not too keen on it for various reasons. Is
building a laser rangefinder feasible? I am slightly worried, due to the
incredible speed of light. Any pointers? Projects? Anything? Thanks!
See Circuit Cellar, November 2005 for an article on the Sharp
Microelectronics optical distance sensor.
 
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