Compact Eyesafe Doppler Lidar Wind Sensor for UAV Leaflet Delivery System

USSOCOM requires a real-time wind-profiling sensor to support precision air delivery of PSYOP leaflets and other cargo from the WSADS Leaflet Delivery System (LDS) UAV without exposing personnel to combat loss. The WSADS-LDS platform limits sensor volume to one cubic foot and weight to 30 pounds. Coherent Technologies, Inc (CTI) proposes to develop a design for a prototype eyesafe Doppler lidar wind sensor in Phase I that meets USSOCOM's volume, weight, and performance requirements for the LDS application. A functional prototype transceiver that leverages volume and weight reduction work in progress on CTI's commercial 2.0 micron WindTracerr wind sensor, will be built and tested in Phase II. The proposed wind sensor will utilize an innovative eyesafe laser transmitter technology operating within the telecom band at 1.6 micron wavelength. The proposed laser medium has an intrinsically low thermal load, enabling development of a compact, lightweight, and efficient air-cooled transceiver that will further reduce volume and weight below the in-progress WindTracerr work. The proposed Phase I / II effort leverages CTI's proven capabilities in packaging compact, rugged, and reliable airborne coherent lidar sensor hardware, thereby providing a low-risk approach to meeting the WSADS-LDS requirements with proven Doppler lidar wind sensor technology.