Optical vortex refers to a structured beam carrying orbital angular momentum, with an annular intensity distribution and a vortex-like wavefront structure. Due to its unique optical complex amplitude and orbital angular momentum, the optical vortex demonstrates tremendous potential in biomedicine, high-capacity optical communication, quantum technology, optical measurement and imaging. In terms of rotation detection, a rotational Doppler frequency shift is generated when a vortex beam illuminates rotating objects. The parameters of the rotation, precession and other motion characteristics can be efficiently and conveniently measured based on the detection of this frequency shift, which is of great significance for identifying the geometric structure, motion characteristics and attitude information of targets. In terms of imaging, the orbital angular momentum of an optical vortex can be used for digital spiral imaging. Optical vortices of different modes are a set of orthogonal complete basis vectors in Hilbert space and can be developed into optical vortex single pixel complex amplitude imaging combined with single pixel imaging technology, which has a potential application in astronomical observation and medical diagnosis. In this paper, we comprehensively review the research progress in rotation detection and imaging technology based on optical vortices. The theoretical principle and the latest research advances are introduced, and future development is also discussed.