Aiming at requirement of automation target recognition, a new target detection method of laser and infrared fusion was studied. Firstly, the infrared target detection method based on direction saliency was introduced, and the advantages and disadvantages of the algorithm were analyzed. A laser and infrared fusion target detection algorithm was proposed. The distance information measured by lidar was incorporated into the infrared target detection algorithm based on directional saliency, which greatly improved the precision of the target detection algorithm. The simulation experiment shows that this method solves the problems of poor adaptability and robustness of single source infrared target detection algorithm, and greatly improves the detection rate of the target.