Laser rangefinder is an instrument that uses laser to accurately measure the distance of a target (also known as laser rangefinder). The laser rangefinder emits a very thin laser beam to the target when it is working. The photoelectric element receives the laser beam reflected by the target. The timer measures the time from emission to reception of the laser beam and calculates the distance from the observer to the target.

If the laser is fired continuously, the measuring range can reach about 40 kilometers, and the operation can be carried out day and night. If the laser is pulsed, the absolute accuracy is generally low, but for long-distance measurement, a good relative accuracy can be achieved.

The world's first laser was first successfully developed by Mayman, a scientist at Hughes Aircraft Corporation in the United States in 1960. The US military quickly carried out research on military laser devices on this basis. In 1961, the first military laser rangefinder passed the U.S. military demonstration test, after which the laser rangefinder soon entered the practical complex.

The laser rangefinder is light in weight, small in size, simple to operate, fast and accurate, and its error is only one-fifth to one-hundredth of other optical rangefinders, so it is widely used in terrain surveying, battlefield surveying, and tanks. , The distance measurement of aircraft, ships and artillery to the target, the measurement of the height of clouds, aircraft, missiles and artificial satellites. It is an important technical equipment to improve the accuracy of tanks, aircraft, ships and artillery.

As the price of laser rangefinders continues to drop, the industry has gradually begun to use laser rangefinders. A number of new miniature rangefinders with the advantages of fast ranging, small size, and reliable performance have emerged at home and abroad, which can be widely used in industrial measurement and control, mines, ports and other fields.