Dual Mode Seeker/Sensor -LADAR/RF

ABSTRACT:In Phase I we designed a ladar concept specifically for a dual mode seeker head. However this technology is applicable to any task requiring the combination of long range, wide field of regard, high resolution, and high speed in a small package. To achieve this we scan a Geiger Mode APD array. Using a modest size array keeps the laser requirements tolerable but still allows us to scan a large field of view much faster than could be done with a single pixel. Using a single photon sensitive Geiger Mode sensor lets us reach the maximum possible range and also allows a scanning approach that relaxes the demands on the scanner. Our ladar concept includes a novel FPGA based real-time data processor that produces a denoised filtered 3D point cloud product at the 1Hz frame capture rate. In this Phase II effort we will demonstrate a full-field full-range 1 Hz/frame ladar. The novel real-time processing developed in Phase I will be demonstrated in a later phase.BENEFIT:There are many applications where "real-time" 3D imagery would be valuable in particular for ISR applications. But how fast does "real-time" have to be For applications where ~1 Hz is sufficient, a hybrid between a scanning single pixel and a staring array can produce the necessary speed while maximizing the range, resolution, and field of view. With a Geiger-mode APD array providing the maximum possible sensitivity, our real-time ladar can produce HD resolution 3D data from several kilometers away at 1 Hz rates using a system small enough to fit on a small UAV.