NOVEL EYE-SAFE DIODE-LASER LIDAR

THE DEVELOPMENT OF GAINASP SEMICONDUCTOR DIODE LASERS FOR FIBER-OPTIC COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS AT 1.55 UM HAS LED TO CONSIDERATION OF THE POTENTIAL USE OF THESE DEVICES IN COMPACT, EYE-SAFE LASER RADAR SYSTEMS. WE PROPOSE A NOVEL LIDAR TECHNIQUE THAT CAN MAKE EFFICIENT USE OF THE NOVEL PROPERTIES OF CW DIODE LASERS, IN ORDER TO PROVIDE BOTH RANGE AND DOPPLER DATA ON TARGETS. IN THE PHASE I EFFORT WE WILL CONDUCT A MODELING STUDY OF THE PROPOSED TECHNIQUE, PERFORM ANINITIAL LABORATORY DEMONSTRATION USING A COMMERCIAL LASER, AND ASSESSTHE FUTURE PROSPECTS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH-POWER, LONG-WAVELENGTH DIODE LASERS. ANITICIPATED BENEFITS/POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONSCOMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS COULD INCLUDE HAND-HELD LIDARS FOR TRAFFIC MONITORING, SENSORS FOR MACHINE AUTOMATION AND VEHICLE-MOUNTED DETECTORS FOR AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEMS.