Underwater mono-static laser imaging

A method, comprising:

• selecting a field of view (FOV) for a three-dimensional laser line scan imaging system for unmanned/autonomous underwater vehicle;
• illuminating the FOV with a pulsed laser transmitter;
• employing a rotatable optical scanner having a pyramidal mirror to reflect the transmitted laser pulses to a target in the FOV and to reflect signal return from the target in the FOV;
• employing a PMT-based detector to detect the signal return and generate a PMT output;
• and
• processing the PMT output.

A three-dimensional laser line scan imaging system having a field of view (FOV), comprising:

• a means for transmitting laser pulses to illuminate the FOV;
• a means for scanning having a pyramidal mirror to reflect the transmitted laser pulses to a target in the FOV and to reflect signal return from the target in the FOV,
• a detector means for detect the signal return and generating a PMT output;
• and
• a processing means for processing the PMT output.