Ask HN: How would you use a multipoint laser range finder?

Hello, We are a group working on a project for 3day startup event (http://nait.3daystartup.org/). We want to develop a cheap multipoint laser range finder. Currently laser range finders measure distance by measuring the time it takes a burst of laser pulse travel between sensor and distant object. In order to collect data over a lager area they use a spinning mirror. Our system would work by firing a infrared laser through a diffraction grating and using a specialized camera to measure the distance between the laser points to calculate the distance. The diffraction grating gives the sensor a 90 degree field of view.

We think we can make an accurate and robust laser range finding system for a fraction of the cost of traditional systems. This would be ideal for robot and drone navigation and collision avoidance systems, security perimeter or safety alert system.

We're still finalizing our designs, and want feedback from people who would want to use this system.

Hi, I'm the physicist on the group, and we have considered the problem of background IR radiation. We can overcome this problem is a couple ways: First we're using sub millisecond laser pulses so that while still being eye safe are much brighter than the background. Second, since we use an IR laser instead of LED we can use a narrow pass filter so that we are only sensitive to the specific wavelength of our laser.

Thanks a lot for you interest though, check out our page and blog for updates! http://www.mylanderpages.com/omnirange

I was actually thinking about laser range finders recently, while trying to measure a room alone with a tape measure. A laser range finder would have made things much easier and more accurate!

Also had a few thoughts about LIDAR...

Just some ideas off the top of my head:

Maybe construction? I'd think it would be really useful to have a good range finding/measurement system when doing almost any kind of construction. If you could get a really good set of measurements of, say, inside of a kitchen, then you could build new cabinets at a shop (saving money vs. building them on site) and then install them with out worrying about how well they fit.

Would it be useful in emergency situations? Woodland firefighting in particular -- could it be mounted to the front of a helicopter and used to keep track of where the fire is, and how it related to the terrain? Then it all gets mapped out, along with the GPS coordinates of firefighters and equipment and you'd have a good emergency incident command system.

Could the diffraction grating idea be used to improve FLIR systems?