Rangefinders measure distance between moving or stationary objects. They were first used by the military and are now used in weather forecasting, animal tracking, and space exploration. Modern rangefinders use technology such as GPS and sound waves. The information is used for various purposes, including fighter jets, space agencies, and life sciences.
A rangefinder is a scientific instrument used to measure the distance between moving objects or between a moving object and a stationary one. These devices were first developed by military troops to calculate the distance to enemy camps based on the sounds of gunfire. Telemetry is still an important part of military technology and is what powers range sensing technology and missile lock capabilities. Rangefinders are also used in weather forecasting, bird and marine animal tracking, and satellite and space exploration, among other things.
Telemetry is based largely on trigonometry and related mathematical calculations. Rangefinders were initially used extensively in pre-WWII military operations. These designs typically consisted of two linked telescopes, both focused on the same target but located some distance apart. Engineers could calculate the relative distance between the telescopes and the target by triangulating the distance as a factor of the optical differential separating the two telescopes.
Modern rangefinders use radar, global positioning systems (GPS), and sound wave technology to perform these same calculations more quickly and accurately. A laser rangefinder can measure the distance between two objects as a factor of beam distance, for example, and a GPS rangefinder can calculate precise distances and even offer topical maps in some cases. In most cases, distance is calculated by the rangefinder’s internal computer unit as a factor of speed, sound wave bounce, and known map data, which is then indicated on a rangefinder scale.
How the rangefinder scale is presented depends largely on the type of rangefinder in question. A telemetry chronograph, which usually looks like a telemetry watch, measures distance on a dial with a hand. Digital rangefinders can display distances on a screen as a measurable distance or as a time to reach target. It is often possible to adjust the scale settings to display the most useful results.
Just as rangefinders calculate distance in many ways, the information is used for a variety of different purposes. Fighter jets, for example, use electronic rangefinder technology to measure distance to enemy fire and also to locate moving dots and position missiles on targets to be destroyed. Space agencies use telemetry data to track satellite orbits and to coordinate many aspects of space travel, both manned and unmanned. Telemetry also has many uses in the life sciences.
Weather watchers often use telemetry to predict the distance and speed of approaching storm systems and to measure air density. Telemetry is one of the primary tools used by rescue teams to measure the likelihood of avalanches, usually by calculating and comparing telemetry readings in a variety of locations. Biologists use rangefinders to track birds and marine life over time, which allows for the collection of complete species and migratory data.
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