An Ultra-Low-Cost Cross-Medium Laser Ranging System With Cameras
Abstract
Convential underwater ranging devices can measure the time of flight of blue laser signals, and must be equipped on expensive underwater vehicles. In this paper, we propose a cross-medium laser ranging system above the water for underwater depth measurements which can be installed on unmanned aerial vehicles. The new device employs a camera to take photos of the laser spot on the riverbed, and the water depth is shown to be an injective function of the shift of the laser spot on photos. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed system achieves a root mean square error of 1.66 mm.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Advanced Optical Sensing Technologies
Underwater Vehicles and Communication Systems
Remote Sensing and LiDAR Applications
Publication details
- Journal / source
- IEEE Photonics Technology Letters
- Volume
- 38
- Issue
- 15
- Pages
- 1062–1065
- Publication date
- 6 January 2026