LRF0310C 1535nm Eye-Safe Laser Rangefinder Module for UAV Gimbals, Optical Pods and Border Surveillance

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

OUTLINE DIMENSION(mm)

The overall dimensions of the mechanical and optical interfaces are shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2 Mechanical and Optical Interface Diagram

The position of the center of mass is shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3 Schematic Diagram of the Center of Mass Position

PIN INTERFACE 

Interface definition: The host computer communicates and tests with the rangefinder through a 6PIN connector. The pin definitions of the power supply and communication ports on the rangefinder side are shown in Table 2.

Table 2 Pin Definitions of Power Supply and Communication Ports on the Rangefinder Side

Product Description

LRF0310C 1535nm Eye-Safe Laser Rangefinder Module for UAV Gimbals, Optical Pods and Border Surveillance

The LRF0310C is a 1535nm Class I eye-safe laser rangefinder module designed for UAV gimbals, optical pods, handheld systems and fixed border surveillance sensors. Built around an erbium-glass laser operating at 1535±5nm, it uses time-of-flight (TOF) ranging to provide precise distance data while staying compliant with international eye-safety requirements, making it suitable for both defense and civilian platforms. 

With a pulse energy ≥100µJ, beam divergence ≤0.6mrad and launch/receive apertures of Φ8mm and Φ16mm, the LRF0310C achieves a NATO target (2.3m×2.3m) range of ≥3000m under 30% reflectance and ≥5km visibility, while typical operating conditions ensure stable performance for vehicle-size and building targets. The minimum range is ≤15m, ranging accuracy is ±1m, range resolution is ≤0.1m, the valid hit rate is ≥98% and the false alarm rate is ≤1%. Up to three targets can be detected in a single shot, supporting first-target, last-target and multi-target modes for cluttered scenes.

The module supports single-shot and continuous ranging from 1Hz to 10Hz, allowing system designers to balance update rate and power budget. Range gating functions enable minimum and maximum distance limits to be configured, which helps suppress near-field clutter or far-field background noise in complex environments such as urban streets, coastal lines, forest edges or industrial sites. A built-in shot counter records total laser shots and per-power-on shots, simplifying system health monitoring and maintenance planning. 

Electrically, the LRF0310C accepts a wide 4.5–16V DC supply, providing flexibility for direct connection to UAV and vehicle power buses. Standby power consumption is ≤0.6W, average power is ≤1.5W at 1Hz and peak power is ≤7W at 12V, making the module suitable for SWaP-sensitive airborne and portable platforms. Communication is via a 3.3V TTL UART through a 6-pin connector, with configurable baud rates (115200bps factory default, plus 57600bps and 9600bps). A simple command set covers self-test, single and continuous ranging, first/last/multi-target selection, baud-rate and frequency settings, range gates, version queries, serial number readout and shot-count queries.

Mechanically, the module measures 48×30.5×21mm and weighs ≤32g, giving integrators a compact block that can be embedded directly into gimbal cameras, mast-mounted EO/IR heads, handheld binoculars or multi-sensor pods. It is qualified for −40 to +70°C operating temperature, −55 to +75°C storage and meets MIL-STD-810G shock and vibration standards, so it can withstand the stresses of UAV flight, vehicle recoil, maritime spray and long-term outdoor deployment. 

For systems requiring a sealed front window, ERDI recommends an external optical window with AR coating optimized for 1525–1545nm and ≥99% transmittance, combined with hydrophobic or hard coatings depending on the environment. Total transmittance after coating and integration should remain ≥97%, and the window geometry should follow the datasheet guidelines for effective aperture, outer diameter and spacing to minimize transmission loss and back-reflection—critical for border towers, coastal surveillance masts and unattended ground sensors in harsh weather. 

Beyond classical rangefinding, 1535nm eye-safe modules such as the LRF0310C are widely used for UAV navigation and obstacle awareness, EO/IR gimbal range-finding, border and perimeter security, coastal and critical-infrastructure monitoring, mobile mapping and industrial machine vision, where reliable distance data, eye-safety and compact size are all critical. The 1.5µm band offers good atmospheric penetration in haze and light rain, is invisible to most night-vision image intensifiers and is compatible with telecom-grade fiber components, making it a natural choice for advanced multi-sensor systems and networked surveillance architectures.