Lidar

Lidar is a method for measuring distances by using a laser on a target and measuring its reflection with a sensor.
History.
After the invention of laser, first tool similar to a lidar was made in 1961 at Hughes Aircraft Company. It was first intended to track satellites. It was originally called "Colidar", acronym for "Coherent Light Detecting And Ranging".
One of first usages of lidar were in meteorology. National Center for Atmospheric Research used it to measure clouds and pollution.