Common and Configurable Flash LIDAR Sensor for Space-Based Autonomous Landing, Rendezvous, and Docking Missions

NASA has identified Flash LIDAR as the key mapping, pose, and range sensor technology of choice for autonomous entry, decent, and precision landing (EDL) on solar system bodies and autonomous rendezvous and docking operations (RDO) for asteroid sample and return, space craft docking, and space situational awareness missions. Flash LIDAR sensors exploit the time of flight principle to produce real time scene range and intensity maps at video rates. Existing 3D Flash LIDAR sensors are custom-built for the specific mission. However, NASA has concluded that the majority of the Flash LIDAR emerging performance and size, weight, and power (SWAP) requirements for both of these mission sets are similar. This revelation provides the motivation to develop a common configurable Flash LIDAR sensor that can be tuned to the specific objectives and accommodation constraints for each mission. State of the art 3D Flash LIDAR Focal Plane Array (FPA) and laser advancements are needed to advance the common sensor architecture initiative. The goal of the proposed Phase I program is to identify feasible FPA and laser state of the art design and performance advancements which enable a subsequent Phase II common Flash LIDAR sensor demonstration