Lidar is a method for measuring distances by using a laser on a target and measuring its reflection with a sensor.
After the invention of laser, first tool similar to a lidar was made in 1961 at Hughes Aircraft Company.[1] It was first intended to track satellites.[2] It was originally called "Colidar", acronym for "Coherent Light Detecting And Ranging".[3]
One of first usages of lidar were in meteorology. National Center for Atmospheric Research used it to measure clouds and pollution.[4]
