MULTI-SENSOR LIDAR

1 . A light detection and ranging system comprising a controller connected to a first sensor and a second sensor, each sensor configured to detect downrange targets with light energy, the first sensor having a different frame rate than the second sensor.

2 . The light detection and ranging system of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor is a camera.

3 . The light detection and ranging system of claim 2 , wherein the camera has a frame rate of 120 frames per second or less.

4 . The light detection and ranging system of claim 2 , wherein the camera has a 4K resolution or greater.

5 . The light detection and ranging system of claim 1 , wherein the second sensor is an optical detector with a 1550 nm wavelength resolution or less.

6 . The light detection and ranging system of claim 5 , wherein each sensor operates at a maximum possible frame rate, the first sensor operating at a greater frame rate than the second sensor.

7 . A method comprising:

connecting a camera sensor and an optical sensor to a controller;

activating an optical source with the controller to send a light beam towards a first target and a second target, each target positioned downrange of the optical source;

capturing an optical image from the camera sensor;

plotting a location of a first target in response to the optical image;

assigning a probability, with the controller, of photons returning to the optical sensor belonging to the second target; and

identifying, with the optical sensor, a first depth of the first target and a second depth of the second target from photons returning to the optical sensor.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the controller assigns the probability of returning photons belonging to the second target before a next frame is generated by the camera sensor.

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the controller assigns a unique identification value to each target in response to the optical image.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the unique identification values are utilized by the controller to continuously track movement of the respective first target and second target.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the controller generates an algorithm to concurrently track the first target and the second target.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the tracking of the first target and second target occurs continuously from frame to frame.

13 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the controller measures reflectance from the first target to determine a size and shape of the first target.

14 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the optical sensor emits a plurality of light beams to generate a point cloud to identify the first depth and second depth.

15 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the controller generates a strategy consisting of one or more operational parameter alterations to accomplish a theme.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the theme is power conservation and the operational parameter alteration is operating the camera sensor with a lower resolution.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the theme is performance and the operational parameter alteration is increasing a frame rate for the camera sensor.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the theme is reliability and the operational parameter alteration is activating a secondary detector to conduct redundant measurement of reflectance of at least one downrange target.

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the operational parameter alteration is operating the camera sensor and optical sensor sequentially.

20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the operational parameter alteration is changing pulse width for the optical sensor.

a camera sensor connected to an optical sensor and a controller, the optical sensor comprising a light source coupled to a emitter and a detector for identifying downrange targets with photons, the camera sensor comprising a lens for capturing a downrange image, the controller tracking downrange targets with the camera sensor at a different frame rate than the optical sensor.