Abstract: An object detection system for a motor vehicle is proposed. The system includes an array of electroluminescent light sources, an array of light sensors and a calculating unit. At least one of the electroluminescent light sources is able to emit a signal. At least one of the sensors is able to receive the emitted signal that has been reflected by an object. The calculating unit is able to calculate, by triangulation, the position of the object on the basis of the position, in one of the arrays of electroluminescent light sources, of at least one of the electroluminescent light sources able to emit a signal and on the basis of the position, in one of the arrays of light sensors, of at least one of the sensors able to receive the signal reflected by the object.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to laser range finders. In one embodiment, a shallow-trench isolation diode operates in a reverse-biased mode. In another embodiment, a poly-defined diode operates in a forward-biased mode. In both embodiments, the diode emits photons in response to a radio frequency current, and the photons are received by an avalanche photo diode during a calibration process.

Abstract: A range imaging system includes a light source unit configured to emit an irradiation light beam to an object, an imaging unit including a solid-state imaging device, and a calculation unit. The solid-state imaging device outputs an image capture signal for forming an image and an imaging signal of a light beam which is obtained when the irradiation light beam emitted is reflected by the object. The calculation unit is configured to calculate range information from the imaging signal, the range information being stored in association with the image.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a ladar system includes a laser transmitter with at least one semiconductor laser having a pulsed laser light output. A laser drive circuit is connected to said at least one semiconductor laser and adapted to electrically drive said at least one semiconductor laser in a predetermined sequence. A laser beam steering mechanism is adapted to scan the pulsed laser light output sequentially through the field of view.

Abstract: Methods and systems for estimating volumes of agricultural crops are provided. A geographic position sensor provides positions of a harvesting machine as it gathers an agricultural crop and places the crop on the ground in a windrow. A speed of the harvesting machine is determined using the geographic position sensor. Signals are received from a sensor system disposed at a bottom of the harvesting machine. The signals are indicative of profiles of segments of the windrow on the ground. Cross-sectional areas of the windrow are estimated using the signals. Volumes of the agricultural crop are estimated using the speed of the harvesting machine and the estimated cross-sectional areas of the windrow.

Abstract: A system shines a series of light stripes across an area. A target object passes through the area and light is reflected to the system from the light stripes as it passes through. Based on the timing of the received light from each of the light stripes, the system calculates the position and velocity of the target object.

Abstract: A system comprises an imaging device that includes a two dimensional array of pixels. Each pixel of the array includes a first optical filter having a first pass band arranged to filter excitation light reflected by a moving object and a first detector configured to detect light transmitted through the first optical filter and to generate a first electrical signal. Each pixel of the array also includes a second optical filter having a second pass band arranged to filter excitation light reflected by a moving object and a second detector configured to detect light transmitted through the second optical filter and to generate a second electrical signal. The imaging device further includes circuitry that generates output signals from each of the pixels based on the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal of the pixel. The output signal includes information about the speed and direction of the moving object.

Abstract: A system and method for sensing an edge of a region includes at least one distance sensor configured to detect a plurality of distances of objects along a plurality of adjacent scan lines. A controller is in communication with the at least one distance sensor and is configured to determine a location of an edge of a region within the plurality of adjacent scan lines. The controller includes a comparator module configured to compare values corresponding to the detected plurality of distances, and an identification module configured to identify the location of the edge of the region according to the compared values. In one example, the values corresponding to the detected plurality of distances include couplets of standard deviations that are analyzed and selected to identify the location of the edge.

Abstract: A LiDAR system includes one or more light sources configured to emit a set of light pulses in a temporal sequence with randomized temporal spacings between adjacent light pulses, one or more detectors configured to receive a set of return light pulses, and a processor configured to: determine a time of flight for each return light pulse of the set of return light pulses; and obtain a point cloud based on the times of flight of the set of return light pulses. Each point corresponds to a respective return light pulse. The processor is further configured to, for each respective point of the set of points in the point cloud: analyze spatial and temporal relationships between the respective point and a set of neighboring points in the set of points; and evaluate a quality factor for the respective point based on the spatial and temporal relationships.

Abstract: An apparatus for target location is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing, which includes a range sensor to generate range data, an image sensor to generate image data, an inertial sensor to generate inertia data, and a processor. The processor is configured to receive the image data from the image sensor and determine a first orientation of the housing and receive the inertia data from the inertial sensor and modify the first orientation based on the inertia data to produce a modified orientation of the housing.

Abstract: First and second types of object detectors, a sensing device, and a mobile apparatus. The first and second types of object detectors include a light source configured to emit light, photoreceptor configured to receive the light reflected by an object, and a binarizing circuit configured to binarize a signal sent from the photoreceptor at a threshold Vth. In the first and second types of object detectors, object detection processes are performed in a same direction until a high-level signal is output M times from the signal binarized by the binarizing circuit. In the first type of object detector, a value of the M is determined based on an incidence of shot noise where peak intensity exceeds the threshold Vth in the photoreceptor. In the second type of object detector, a threshold Vth is set based on a value of the M.

Abstract: A measuring method, wherein point cloud data of a building is acquired by a laser scanner, wherein the laser scanner has an attitude detector for detecting a tilting with respect to a horizontality or a verticality, converts the point cloud data into a horizontal distance and a height or a difference of a height based on the tilting detected by the attitude detector, sets a height line at a predetermined height on a wall surface, averages a horizontal distance information of the point cloud data included in a predetermined width with the height line as a center in a height direction, further develops the horizontal distance information along the height line in a horizontal direction, and measures a horizontal cross section at the predetermined height.

Abstract: A shared optics and telescope for transmitting a transmission beam and receiving a return signal is provided. The shared optics and telescope includes a pair of axicon lenses operable to shape the transmission beam into an annular beam having an outer diameter and an inner diameter, a secondary mirror operable to deflect the annular beam into a deflected annular transmission beam, and a primary mirror that includes an inner mirror portion and an outer mirror portion, the inner mirror portion operable to expand the deflected annular transmission beam, and the outer mirror portion operable to collect the return signal.

Abstract: A photodetector includes a first cell converting incident light into electric charges; and a second cell converting incident light into electric charges; wherein the first cell includes a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer provided to be closer to a light incident side than the first semiconductor layer, wherein the second cell includes a third semiconductor layer and a fourth semiconductor layer provided to be closer to a light incident side than the third semiconductor layer, wherein a first interface between the third semiconductor layer and the fourth semiconductor layer is located to be closer to the light incident side than a second interface between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer.

Abstract: With the proliferation of laser ranging systems (e.g. LIDAR) there is a need to avoid transmitting high power laser pulses towards certain objects such as people's eyes. Recently, advancements in electronically-steerable lasers have made it possible to dynamically steer a laser in 2-D. In one embodiment a LIDAR can identify a portion of an object to be avoided with laser pulses e.g. a persons head or a car windshield. The LIDAR can compute a keepout region or portion of the field of view that will be avoided by a subsequent laser scan. The LIDAR can dynamically steer a laser beam around the keepout region. In another embodiment a laser range finder can use sensor date form the local environment to track an object to be avoided and dynamically update laser steering instructions to avoid the dynamic keepout region of the field of view.

Abstract: An array-based light detection and ranging (LiDAR) unit includes an array of emitter/detector sets configured to cover a field of view for the unit. Each emitter/detector set emits and receives light energy on a specific coincident axis unique for that emitter/detector set. A control system coupled to the array of emitter/detector sets controls initiation of light energy from each emitter and processes time of flight information for light energy received on the coincident axis by the corresponding detector for the emitter/detector set. The time of flight information provides imaging information corresponding to the field of view. Interference among light energy is reduced with respect to detectors in the LiDAR unit not corresponding to the specific coincident axis, and with respect to other LiDAR units and ambient sources of light energy. In one embodiment, multiple array-based LiDAR units are used as part of a control system for an autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: A system for inspecting an acoustic treatment applied to the hull of a maritime vessel includes an underwater inspection system including at least one signal emitter configured to emit a signal, at least one receiver configured to receive the signal after the signal has come into contact with the acoustic treatment applied to the hull of the maritime vessel, wherein the signal provides information about the integrity of the acoustic treatment and a processor configured to perform signal processing on the received signal and generate an output comprising information about one or more parameters of the acoustic treatment. The inspection system thereby allows for in-water inspection of acoustic treatments applied to a maritime vessel thus avoiding the need for a costly and time-consuming inspection of such a vessel while in dry-dock.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a multi-beam LiDAR system. The multi-beam LiDAR system includes a transmitter having an array of laser emitters. Each laser emitter is configured to emit a laser beam. The multi-beam LiDAR system also includes a receiver having an array of photodetectors. Each photodetector is configured to receive at least one return beam that is reflected by an object from one of the laser beams. The laser emitter array includes a plurality of laser emitter boards perpendicular to a horizontal plane. Each laser emitter board has a plurality of laser emitters. The plurality of laser emitters in the laser emitter array are staggered along a vertical direction. The photodetector array includes a plurality of columns of photodetectors. One of the laser emitter boards corresponds to one column of photodetectors.

Abstract: A method of imaging a scene includes estimating multiple three-dimensional (3D) representations, each of which corresponds to a respective portion of the scene. Neighboring portions of the scene area are at least partially overlapping. Each 3D representation is estimated by illuminating the respective portion of the scene with a light burst including multiple light pulses, after which multiple point clouds are generated by detecting photons reflected or scattered from the respective portion of the scene using a focal plane array. Data points in the point clouds represent a distance between the focal plane array and a scene point in the respective portion of the scene. The 3D representation is then estimated based on the multiple point clouds via coincidence processing. The method then generates a 3D image of the scene based on the multiple 3D representations.

Abstract: Provided is a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system including: a light source; a beam steering device configured to steer light emitted from the light source toward an object; a light detector configured to detect light reflected from the object; and a processor. The beam steering device may include an optical phased array, including a plurality of channels, and a signal input unit which applies a plurality of driving signals to the plurality of channels. The processor is configured to perform an optimization operation including analyzing the light detected by the light detector, calculating at least one correction value, and controlling the plurality of driving signals according to the at least one correction value, in order to correct an error of the beam steering device.