Experimental demonstration of quantum-inspired rangefinding for noise resistance

We report a quantum-inspired rangefinding platform that translates the noise-resilience of quantum illumination into a high-brightness semi-classical system. By engineering energy-time correlations in a classical light source, we preserve the main noise-suppression benefits of entanglement while achieving the brightness levels required for long-distance performance. Therefore, the system remains resilient to high background noise -- even in bright sunlight and varying weather conditions -- while operating at significantly lower power levels than conventional classical sources. This work enables a transition from metre-scale, lab-based demonstrations to robust operation over hundreds of metres in real-world environments. Our results establish a powerful and practical framework for applying quantum benefits to classical schemes, opening new avenues for long-range, noise-tolerant remote sensing technologies, and illustrating how quantum concepts can meaningfully enhance classical systems.