Methods and apparatus for increased precision and improved range in a multiple detector lidar array

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products for acquiring three-dimensional LiDAR information of a scene are disclosed. According to one aspect, acquiring three-dimensional information includes emitting N pulses in a sequence with each successive pulse having a relative time shift to the sampling reference, thus producing a reconstructed sampled signal with an effective sampling rate of N times the sampling reference. According to another aspect, acquiring three-dimensional information includes emitting two or more frequencies, the differences of each pair of differing frequencies being designated as Δf, and sampling the return information with the use of a sampling reference. Frequency analysis is performed on the sampled information to determine the reference times at which the Δf signals occur and the signal intensity of the Δf signals at each time. Systems as described herein can be utilized for autonomous vehicle navigation, collision avoidance and navigation systems for UAVs, roadway surface texture analysis, non-contact friction analysis, and in-motion deflectometer measurement.