Laser & Optoelectronics Progress, Volume. 62, Issue 19, 1906007(2025)

Research and Development Progress of Underwater Laser Ranging Technology (Invited)

Haonan Shi1, Kaihua Zhao2, Haofeng Hu1,2, Jingsheng Zhai1, and Xiaobo Li1、*
Author Affiliations
  • 1School of Marine Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
  • 2School of Precision Instrument and Opto-Electronics Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
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    Figures & Tables(10)
    Brief view of the content in this review
    Schematic diagram of underwater distance measurement system
    Underwater laser ranging system based on time-of-flight method. (a) Seawater laser ranging experimental system[16]; (b) experimental scheme of underwater optical frequency comb ranging [22]
    Underwater laser ranging system based on phase detection method. (a) Block diagram of setup for underwater FMCW ranging experiments [28]; (b) FMCW processing steps [28]; (c) layout of intensity modulation light source with wavelength of 532 nm based on intensity modulation [31]; (d) laser phase based underwater ranging system based on intensity modulation[32]
    Underwater laser ranging system based on triangulation method. (a) Principle of vertical triangulation ranging[35]; (b) principle of oblique triangulation ranging[35]; (c) schematic diagram of calibration for triangulation ranging system[38]; (d) underwater 3D reconstruction system based on triangulation and photometric stereo[42]; (e) underwater 3D reconstruction system based on triangulation and multispectral photometric stereo[43]
    Underwater laser ranging system based on photon counting method. (a) Principle of underwater photon counting ranging[46]; (b) principle of TCSPC; (c) schematic diagram of underwater single-photon LiDAR[49]; (d) photograph of underwater single-photon LiDAR[49]; (e) photon counting reconstruction results based on CASPI[55]
    Mapper5000 system and its depth measurement schematic diagram. (a) Photograph of Mapper5000 system[58]; (b) schematic diagram of ICESat-2 bathymetry[60]
    Block diagram of the target recognition system[65]
    Girona 500 AUV with the laser scanner (white circle) [69]
    • Table 1. Comparison of indicators of different underwater laser ranging methods

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      Table 1. Comparison of indicators of different underwater laser ranging methods

      Ranging methodRange /mAccuracy /mmSpeed /HzComplexityApplication
      Time-of-flight1722-230.1‒50

      5‒10

      ~0.02 (OFC)

      1000‒2000Medium

      Large-scale

      fast ranging

      Phase detection32-340.1‒101‒5500‒1000High

      High-precision

      near ranging

      Triangulation3942-440.1‒50.1‒11000‒5000Low

      Close-range

      ranging and imaging

      Photon counting48-4953-550.1‒2005‒201‒100High

      Long-distance

      turbid water ranging

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    Haonan Shi, Kaihua Zhao, Haofeng Hu, Jingsheng Zhai, Xiaobo Li. Research and Development Progress of Underwater Laser Ranging Technology (Invited)[J]. Laser & Optoelectronics Progress, 2025, 62(19): 1906007

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    Paper Information

    Category: Fiber Optics and Optical Communications

    Received: Jun. 19, 2025

    Accepted: Jul. 16, 2025

    Published Online: Sep. 26, 2025

    The Author Email: Xiaobo Li (lixiaobo@tju.edu.cn)

    DOI:10.3788/LOP251499

    CSTR:32186.14.LOP251499

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