LIDAR (LIght Detection And Ranging) was a technology that used laser pulses to calculate the size, speed, and distance of an object.
LIDAR was used in pre-warp civilizations, including those on Earth. The Ares IV command module, which was used in the early Mars missions, was utilizing LIDAR when it became engulfed in a subspace anomaly. NASA also made use of it to try and locate the lost Ares IV, but were unsuccessful in their attempts. (VOY: "One Small Step")
- RADAR, a similar technique that utilized radio waves projected through the air
- SONAR, a similar technique that utilized sound waves projected underwater