Safe range gated imaging LIDAR with a nanosecond frequency doubled Nd:YAG laser

In this work we have constructed a range gated imaging LIDAR with the aim to show the potential of this technique as well as to further determine aspects such as the typical energy per pulse needed, the illumination distribution of the laser source and the safety class. For this, we built a custom frequency doubled nanosecond pulsed Nd:YAG laser as illumination source, a CCD coupled to a generation II image intensifier and a simple progressive delays set for the camera gate using a pulse delay generator. At low levels of the illumination pulse and assuming safety perimeter around the system of approx. 1.5 m, the LIDAR could be classified as class 2M. In these conditions, we could resolve objects as far as 690 m.