A method for measuring the distance to a target using LIDAR and RADAR, the method including the steps of: generating a beam of light, the beam being composed of: a first pulse train in a first state of polarization and having a first repetition rate f 1, and a second pulse train in a second state of polarization and having a second repetition rate f 2; splitting the beam of light using a first polarization beam splitter into a first path for the first pulse train and a second path for the second pulse train; generating a reference signal and a target signal and a RADAR pulse train, each based on the first pulse train; generating a local oscillator signal having a reference component in the first state of polarization and a target component in the second state of polarization, by rotating the plane of polarization of the second pulse train; dividing the local oscillator signal into two separate pulse trains including a fourth pulse train before splitting the local oscillator signal into its constituent components; combining the reference signal and the reference component of the local oscillator signal to generate a first result; combining the target signal and the target component of the local oscillator signal to generate a second result; converting the RADAR pulse train from an optical signal into an electronic RADAR signal using a first photodetector; directing the RADAR signal towards a transmission antenna; transmitting the RADAR signal towards the target; receiving the RADAR signal at a receiving antenna; modulating the fourth pulse train based on the RADAR signal received at the receiving antenna, to give rise to a modulated optical signal; and detecting the modulated optical signal using a second photodetector to generate a third result indicative of the distance to the target; determining the distance to the target using the first result and the second result; determining the distance to the target using the third result; and calibrating, using the third result, the distance determination calculated using the first and second results, and calibrating, using the first and second results, the distance determination calculated using the third result, wherein the beam of light is generated by a single laser comprising a birefringent component configured to generate the first pulse train and the second pulse train having the first and second states of polarizations and the first and second repetition rates f 1, f 2. generating a beam of light, the beam being composed of: a first pulse train in a first state of polarization and having a first repetition rate f 1, and a second pulse train in a second state of polarization and having a second repetition rate f 2; a first pulse train in a first state of polarization and having a first repetition rate f 1, and a second pulse train in a second state of polarization and having a second repetition rate f 2; splitting the beam of light using a first polarization beam splitter into a first path for the first pulse train and a second path for the second pulse train; generating a reference signal and a target signal and a RADAR pulse train, each based on the first pulse train; generating a local oscillator signal having a reference component in the first state of polarization and a target component in the second state of polarization, by rotating the plane of polarization of the second pulse train; dividing the local oscillator signal into two separate pulse trains including a fourth pulse train before splitting the local oscillator signal into its constituent components; combining the reference signal and the reference component of the local oscillator signal to generate a first result; combining the target signal and the target component of the local oscillator signal to generate a second result; converting the RADAR pulse train from an optical signal into an electronic RADAR signal using a first photodetector; directing the RADAR signal towards a transmission antenna; transmitting the RADAR signal towards the target; receiving the RADAR signal at a receiving antenna; modulating the fourth pulse train based on the RADAR signal received at the receiving antenna, to give rise to a modulated optical signal; and detecting the modulated optical signal using a second photodetector to generate a third result indicative of the distance to the target; determining the distance to the target using the first result and the second result; determining the distance to the target using the third result; and calibrating, using the third result, the distance determination calculated using the first and second results, and calibrating, using the first and second results, the distance determination calculated using the third result, wherein the beam of light is generated by a single laser comprising a birefringent component configured to generate the first pulse train and the second pulse train having the first and second states of polarizations and the first and second repetition rates f 1, f 2.