Distributed Aperture, Multifunction Laser Radar System

An emerging, powerful trend in electro-optics systems development is the "multifunction sensor. It addresses the need to reduce the volume, prime power requirements, and cost of sensor suites. Further functionality and cost reduction are achieved by distributing the multifunction sensor signals over an optical bus to spatially-separated optical apertures and time multiplexing a centrally located transceiver to the apertures. Distributed, multifunction optical sensor architectures are anticipated to find utility in aerospace platforms, wide-area ground surveillance and cost-sensitive industrial applications. Coherent Technologies, Inc. (CTI) will adapt the multifunction ladar transceivers it is developing to an open architecture optical bus. The primary functions will include rangefinding, target designation, and image acquisition. Ancillary functions include coherent lidar wind measurements and communication. The distributed sensor apertures will contain functions such as phased array beam steering and modular receivers. Coupling the new architecture with CTS's expertise in turnkey field and flight-worthy electro-optic systems will facilitate new dual-use products. In Phase I, CTI will analyze the different candidate architectures, and produce a system design with cost estimates to establish feasibility for fabricating first-generation hardware in Phase II. The technical requirements for additional aperture functions and the possibility of coherent aperture synthesis will be investigated.