Electronically-scanned laser-based periscope detection system

Whether a laser-based system is used to autonomously detect and recognize a periscope, or the laser-based system is used as a complement to a radar-based periscope detection system, the timeliness of the laser-based detection is critical. Electronically steering the pointing direction of the laser and the field of view of the laser receiver enables a timely response by the laser-based system to any breaching of the sea surface by a periscope. The emerging technology of diffractive waveplates enables electronic beam steering for narrowband systems such as lasers and active imagers along with electronic control of illumination spot size. In conjunction with a high-efficiency, short pulse laser illuminator and high sensitivity laser receiver, we propose an electronic beam and field of view steering system that can address any location in the field of regard within a response time that is orders of magnitude shorter than the time it would take to slew a conventional gimbal system over a comparable angle. In addition to enabling rapid response and high resolution detection, electronic beam and field of view steering is expected to have a major favorable impact on system size, weight, and power consumption.