Range finder experimenting?

[DennisCNC]

Any one here look in to range finders to use them for some thing more productive then just range finding. I have been working on a way to use one to be as a extra alert system in a car when driving down the road and a car in front stops and you are trying to figure out in your head how to drive the X axis ball screws with trick new servo that you just bought.
With the help from above I have been able to stop every time, but since im in the auto collision industry others not able to stop in time.

Toyota Sienna XLS vans use a simillar device in the front bumper cover next to the right fog light for active cruice control. I almost have my hands on one of these, as soon as the guys remembers to drop it by the shop. They use a octagon scanner like laser printers to spread the beam. And the box has 5 wires for com.

I know other cars have them but this is only one I have looked in so far. Also I was thinking of using Bushell range finders to test out. If some one here has taken one apart i'd like to know whats inside?

It might save you one day.

Any one else in to this stuff?

[unterhaus]

I think the Bushnell range finders are Polaroid sensors, but it's been a while. The Toyota range finder almost sounds like it's similar to one of the Sick LMS200 range finders used in industrial guarding and in robots. We also recently ordered some small laser range finders from Japan, about 1/8 the size of the Sick, but lower range.

It would be nice if my car had automatic cruise control. The closest I've gotten to causing an accident is when I was changing lanes and someone stopped in front of me. I've always managed to change lanes or stop in time, but warning would be nice.

[DennisCNC]

Maybe I will be able to get a SICK unit soon. It uses RS-232 and range is up to 49m with a wide scan angle.