An optical principle identified over a century ago could soon be applied to areas like monitoring atmospheric turbulence, tracking objects in the air, and environmental mapping, according to researchers at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI).
Using the Scheimpflug technique, the researchers are creating low-cost rangefinding cameras, advanced sensors, and computational methods to complement—and in some cases replace—traditional LiDAR systems. The approach is particularly effective for short- to mid-range measurements and can operate either passively or alongside laser-based methods.
Scheimpflug as a Full Alternative to ToF LiDAR
“The Scheimpflug technique can serve as a full alternative to time-of-flight (ToF) LiDAR, and we’re exploring its full potential,” said Nathan Meraz, a senior research scientist at GTRI who has been developing these applications for years. “It captures measurements in a different way, and because it relies on camera sensors, it provides much richer data than standard LiDAR signals. It also enables data fusion opportunities.”
A study on the method and its potential for remote sensing was presented at the 2025 SPIE Defense + Commercial Systems (DCS) Conference.
The optical principle behind the Scheimpflug technique, popularized in the early 1900s, inspired several patented devices by Austrian photographer Theodor Scheimpflug, who used it to correct perspective distortion in aerial images.
The method relies on the alignment between a camera’s image plane (where the sensor or film sits), the lens plane (set by the optics), and the subject in focus, such as a landscape or structure. Already applied in fields like ophthalmology, perspective correction, and extended depth-of-field imaging, researchers at GTRI aim to advance it further by adapting the principle for static monocular 3D imaging.
“While LiDAR depends on complex electronics to track how laser pulses travel, the Scheimpflug approach uses a simpler concept,” explained GTRI research engineer Joseph Greene. “By tilting the camera, we can resolve information along the optical axis through which light moves in the atmosphere. Instead of timing a signal to determine its position, this configuration allows us to directly infer where it is.”
How the Scheimpflug Technique Differs From LiDAR
GTRI researchers are employing event-based cameras that record changes in brightness at individual pixels—without relying on traditional shutters. By analyzing this pixel-level data, the system achieves microsecond resolution and, when paired with new range-finding algorithms, enhances the ability to isolate optical signals within calibrated distances. In contrast, time-of-flight (ToF) methods depend on fast detectors, high-speed timing electronics, and pulsed or modulated lasers, making them more complex and costly.
The developing system can be flexibly adapted for both active and passive remote sensing, functioning either on its own or alongside laser-based technologies. Using the Scheimpflug approach instead of ToF could significantly reduce system size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C).
Hybrid Scheimpflug–LiDAR systems may also offer lower dynamic range requirements, better range resolution and performance, compatibility with both continuous-wave and pulsed lasers, and adaptability across different wavelengths, according to Meraz.
Initial Experiments and Real-World Testing
While LiDAR is commonly used to study atmospheric turbulence, the GTRI team is exploring the Scheimpflug technique for tracking moving objects, where its effectiveness at shorter distances could offer a clear advantage.
“The passive system is especially valuable for atmospheric measurements, since conventional atmospheric LiDAR tends to struggle at close range,” said Megan Birch, a member of the research team. “Like any sensing technology, we’re continuing to find new ways to apply the Scheimpflug approach.”
To support this work, GTRI researchers have developed several Scheimpflug-based LiDAR systems for testing. In 2024, they unveiled SCHORTY to measure atmospheric effects on laser beams from 6 m to 4 km.
In a separate test, the camera and a conventional ToF LiDAR simultaneously imaged a 355-nanometer laser beam, demonstrating the prototype’s capabilities. Using only pixel-range maps, they generated range profiles with sufficient sensitivity to visually detect atmospheric effects such as extinction and turbulence.
Likewise, a smaller 532-nanometer prototype beam proved highly sensitive to turbulence, allowing the researchers to clearly observe beam wander and scintillation effects in real-time video.
Prospects and Upcoming Developments
Looking forward, the researchers aim to further advance the SCHORTY instrument for atmospheric monitoring and explore additional applications for the technology.
“At this stage, we know its models, limits, and benefits and are exploring other potential applications,” said Meraz. “These applications are entirely new—they don’t appear in textbooks or standard courses—but they offer vast potential to explore, and we’re eager to uncover more.”
Read the original article on: Tech Xplore
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