世界上第一台激光器，是由美国休斯飞机公司的科学家梅曼于1960年，首先研制成功的。美国军方很快就在此基础上开展了对军用激光装置的研究。1961年，第一台军用激光测距仪通过了美国军方论证试验，对此后激光测距仪很快就进入了实用联合体。
The world's first laser, by the United States Hughes aircraft Company scientist Maiman in 1960, the first successful development. The U. S. military soon began to build on this research with military laser devices. In 1961, the first military laser rangefinder passed the U. S. Military demonstration test, and soon after laser rangefinder entered the practical complex.
激光测距仪是利用激光对目标的距离进行准确测定(又称激光测距)的仪器。激光测距仪在工作时向目标射出一束很细的激光，由光电元件接收目标反射的激光束，计时器测定激光束从发射到接收的时间，计算出从观测者到目标的距离。
激光测距仪重量轻、体积小、操作简单速度快而准确，其误差仅为其它光学测距仪的五分之一到数百分之一，因而被广泛用于地形测量，战场测量，坦克，飞机，舰艇和火炮对目标的测距，测量云层、飞机、导弹以及人造卫星的高度等。它是提高坦克、飞机、舰艇和火炮精度的重要技术装备。
由于激光测距仪价格不断下调，工业上也逐渐开始使用激光测距仪。国内外出现了一批新型的具有测距快、体积小、性能可靠等优点的微型测距仪，可以广泛应用于工业测控、矿山、港口等领域。
Laser rangefinder is an instrument that uses laser to accurately measure the distance of a target (also called laser rangefinder). When the laser rangefinder is working, it shoots a very thin laser to the target, and the photoelectric element receives the reflected laser beam of the target. The timer measures the time from emission to reception of the laser beam, and calculates the distance from the observer to the target.
Laser rangefinder light weight, small volume, simple operation, fast and accurate, its error is only one 5 of the other optical rangefinder to one percent, which is widely used in topographic survey, field measurement, tanks, planes, ships and guns to target range, measuring the clouds, the height of the aircraft, missiles and satellites, etc. It is an important technical equipment to improve the accuracy of tanks, aircraft, ships and artillery.
As the price of laser rangefinders has been falling, the industry has gradually begun to use laser rangefinders. At home and abroad, a number of new micro-rangefinder with the advantages of fast ranging, small volume, reliable performance, etc., can be widely used in industrial measurement and control, mines, ports and other fields.
