Arrangement and Method for Contactless Distance Determination of the Type of the Light Intersection Method

A system for contactless determination of distance by use of a light intersection method comprising:

• at least one light source, a means for generating a visual contrast line and a light detector, the means for generating a contrast line is positioned in a direct sequence and spaced apart from the light source, only air is present in a beam path of light from the at least one light source between the at least one light source and the means for generating a visual contrast line, the means for generating the contrast line has at least one first edge over which the emitted light radiates and by which a shadow of the edge is projected which corresponds to the contrast line which is adjacent to an illuminated region projected by the light source, and the light detector detects at least the contrast line and at least one light source, the means for generating a visual contrast line and the light detector are positioned on a mobile platform for detecting surroundings of the mobile platform for providing autonomous navigation of the mobile platform.

A method for contactless distance determination using light intersection method in which a means for generating is illuminated with a light source which projects an edge shadow with a first edge including a contrast line to a region directly adjacent the projected edge shadow, which is illuminated by the light source, comprising detecting the contrast line by a light detector, using a light intersection method to determine the distance;

• and detecting surroundings around a platform used for autonomous navigation thereof, on which the light source, the means for generating the contrast line and the light detector are positioned.