Coherent 3D LADAR Vibrometer with fiber lens array beam steering

Building on the experience in coherent detection optical system design, in fiber lens array beam steering, in fiber optics component fabrication and high speed modulation development, in random surface light scattering, and in light propagation properties, AGILTRON proposes to establish a 3D LADAR Vibrometer for realizing target detection and identification. The proposed approach transfuses the gradient index fiber lens technology into the sensor to realize 2D beam steering. Cut from same fiber bundle, two matched fiber lens arrays are aligned once two pairs of fiber lenses are aligned. By mounting the lens arrays on two tuning forks respectively, agile 2D beam steering is realized. A fast PM delay-line developed by AGILTRON is used to extend the coherent detection range. An RF frequency is used to make a mark on the laser beam for distance measurement, while the low frequency Doppler shift is detected in the low frequency channel. In this Phase I program, a detailed analysis of the system construction, key part design and sensing models will be carried out, supporting experiments will be conducted, and a demonstration prototype will be designed for construction in Phase II. BENEFIT: A coherent 3D LADAR with vibration feature meter can be used to gather enough information on the battlefield for target identification, and to provide physical security support in anti-terrorism scenarios. Additional civilian applications for the proposed sensor technology include environmental sensing such as a bridge vibration remote sensing, determining the topology of a city or a geographical region.