Information on Range Finders
Measuring distances has been an important part of engineering throughout history. While ancient builders used basic guides, craftsmen quickly began creating better measurement tools. From paces and hands to rulers and yardsticks, measurement tools have advanced over hundreds of years. A modern-day rangefinder, one of the most accurate ways to measure distances, uses pulses of light. Laser beams are bounced off distant targets, while a timer counts exactly how long the light takes to return. This technology is called laser rangefinding.
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Rangefinder Basics
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Laser rangefinders use focused light to measure distances. An invisible laser beam is aimed at an object. Because laser light bounces off most surfaces, rangefinders can "see" this reflection and time precisely how long the light takes to return. The rangefinder can then calculate the distance to the object.
Rangefinder Pulses
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Instead of constantly emitting light energy, most rangefinders use "pulses" of laser light. The patterns of this pulse help the rangefinder identify the laser beam when it is reflected.
Consider the headlights of a car. These are constant beams. When hundreds of cars are together on a busy highway, the beams blur together and are difficult to distinguish. A police car's flashing lights, however, are immediately noticeable. The pulsing laser of a rangefinder uses the same principle. -
Rangefinder Distances
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Many factors affect the effective distance of rangefinders. Most handheld rangefinders can measure several hundred meters accurately, while more advanced models can measure to a kilometer or more.
While laser rangefinders are very accurate at long ranges, there are some limitations. Like all waves, laser light spreads out gradually as it travels. Differences in the air, such as heat and moisture, can deflect the beam and create false signals.
Common Uses
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Rangefinders are used in sports and recreation activities, such as golf and hunting, that rely on knowing precise distances. Decreases in technology costs have made sport rangefinders more common in recent years.
Laser rangefinders are also very common in the military. Commanders rely on accurate information for everything from artillery fire to troop movements. In addition to handheld models, the military employs long-range lasers mounted on vehicles and aircraft.
Other Uses
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The entertainment industry uses lasers to scan objects and create 3-D models. These precise measurements are converted into highly detailed representations in virtual reality.
Scientists often use laser rangefinders, as well. Long-range lasers can be used to measure the distance to an object in space, such as the moon. The technology continues to be used more and more in space exploration, where there is no atmosphere to deflect beams of laser light.
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References
- Photo Credit A. Anatol
