Imaging LIDAR Camera

Optics proposes the development of a novel laser radar system. The system presented overcomes the limitations of existing 'time-of-flight' and coherent sensor systems and requires no scanning of the laser beam. We propose to use a pulsed laser to illuminate the scene, a gated solid state charged coupled device (CCD) camera and a novel phase detection technique. The amplitude of the reflected signal carries the luminance information, while the phase of the signal carries the range information. The system output is luminance and range information coded as a real time, standard video signal. This system offers significant advantages over existing technology. Range resolution is only dependent on phase shift and laser power and theoretically far superior to existing 'time-of-flight' laser radar systems. Other advantages are reduced size, simple optics, and compact and inexpensive construction. This laser radar camera offers simultaneous high resolution in range (z) and x-y and requires no intensive image processing, permitting real-time operation. Delta Optics proposes to conduct a feasibility study of the system, and to develop specifications to build a prototype in a second phase. The goal is to demonstrate the laser radar camera utility to record three-dimensional images in many applications. Real-time 3-D TV camera, from the infrared to the ultraviolet, with significant advantages over existing technology because of its simplicity, low cost and high range resolution. Applications include teleoperation, autonomous robots, machine vision systems, architectural, medical and manufacturing inspection.