Very nice. Simple but elegant.

that sure isnt a lot of documentation for an educational institution… =[

I’d like to see this done with different color lasers. that or maybe interaction between two different units.

something like a pacman scenario.

that would drive a cat nuts!

The term photodetector is very generic. What type of photodetector, does anyone know?

According to Wikipedia, a CCD is considered a type of photodetector as well.

i just wanna know how to make this one.. can anyone help me..? please, i think i need to do this so i can present something new in our science investigatory projecf..

*work on those*

and i just wanna make it cuz im curious..

More info here:
http://www.k2.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/fusion/LaserActiveTracking/index-e.html

The photodetector is just that, it measures the intensity of light reflected back from the laser and as such is able to read the light and dark areas. they mention this project is similar to a laser range finder with 3d capability and tracking algorithms.

seems they are using a nice (expensive) set of closed loop galvos.

i retract my previous comment, i didnt see the link right above me -_-

Light spins in a circle around its current location.
if part of the circle does not reflect back to the photodetector then the location is modified to moves away from the part of the circle where the light did not reflect.

Thanks for that link Agent420, I saw this elsewhere already but with the same just-videos link which leaves people like us (hackaday visitors) frustrated.
However when you see the setup they use an awful lot of ready-made parts. it’s more artistic than technical talent I guess.

@anon then track the rims of craters on the moon?