The　paper　designs　an　efficient　recognition　algorithm　to　detect　laser　spots　with　high　Real-time.　An　improved　Otsu　is　proposed　to　identify　the　target　and　exclude　the　noise　on　the　condition　of　atmospheric　turbulence.　The　problem　that　spot　center　is　not　accurate　caused　by　the　phenomenon　of　＇supersaturated＇　is　efficiently　solved　as　well.　Firstly,　the　difference　the　foreground　image　and　the　background　image　is　calculated,　the　morphological　filtering　is　done　to　segment　the　target.　The　elliptic　characteristic　of　the　target　is　used　for　preliminary　identification.　Many　steps　are　designed　in　order　to　remove　False-alarms　and　improve　recognition　accuracy.　The　algorithm　is　applied　in　the　hardware　TMS320C6455　system.　Extensive　experiments　show　that　the　algorithm　not　only　ensures　the　matching　accuracy　but　also　improves　the　time　response.　©　2014　Springer　International　Publishing　Switzerland.　All　rights　reserved.