Due to their retroreflective properties, corner reflectors are widely used across various technical fields.
In precision metrology, corner reflectors serve as key components in devices such as laser rangefinders, total stations, and laser interferometers, facilitating high-precision distance measurement and displacement detection.
In the military sector, they are primarily used for camouflage and deception-misleading enemy radar by simulating false targets such as bridges, troop formations, or naval fleets.
In maritime safety, ships carry radar reflectors to enhance radar echo visibility and prevent collisions; they are also used to mark hazardous areas, such as shipwrecks or reefs.
In astronomical surveying, corner reflector arrays placed on the lunar surface, for instance, are used to precisely measure the Earth-Moon distance. In communication technology, they are employed in high-frequency millimeter-wave (5G/6G) systems to boost signal strength and in quantum communications to improve photon collection efficiency. In the fields of autonomous driving and augmented reality (AR), corner reflectors enhance the visibility of road signs to LiDAR systems and serve as precise positioning markers for AR devices.
Additionally, corner reflectors have common applications in traffic safety (such as bicycle tail lights and reflective road signs) and architecture (such as reducing glare from glass curtain walls).
