An object detection apparatus has a laser radar and near infrared ray
projector. The projector has a near infrared ray projecting lens, a laser
oscillator, a laser receiver and a swivel actuator. The laser oscillator
emits a laser beam, while the swivel actuator scans the laser beam in a
laser scanning range. A laser receiver receives the laser beam reflected
on an object. The near infrared ray projecting lens diverges the laser
beam and projects a near infrared ray into a range including the laser
scanning range and a near infrared ray projecting range. The near
infrared camera obtains an infrared image by receiving a near infrared
ray reflected on the object. An electronic control unit calculates object
information based on the received laser beam when detecting an object and
causes the near infrared ray to be projected to obtain the infrared image
when acquiring the infrared image.