PROGRAMMABLE SIGNAL PROCESSOR FOR REAL-TIME LIDAR WIND MEASUREMENTS

THIS PROPOSAL PRESENTS A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION FOR A PROGRAMMABLE DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSOR FOR REAL-TIME PRODUCING OF LIDAR WIND PARAMETER MEASUREMENTS. A TECHNICAL BACKGROUND OF THE ART OF PERIPHERAL DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSORS IS PRESENTED. THE PROPOSED LIDAR INSTRUMENT PARAMETERS ARE EXAMINED. A SET OF PRELIMINARY PROCESSOR DESIGN REQUIREMENTS ARE FORMULATED. A CONCEPTUAL DESIGN OF THE PROCESSOR IS ALSO INCLUDED TO PROVIDE AN EARLY EVALUATION OF THE FEASIBILITY OF IMPLEMENTING A REAL-TIME LIDAR PROCESSOR USING EXISTING SINGLE CHIP DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING (DSP) DEVICES. THE CONCLUSION AS PRESENTED HERE SHOWS SUCH AN IMPLEMENTATION IS FEASIBLE. THE PROPOSING COMPANY INDEED HAS DSP BOARDS SUITABLE FOR THE LIDAR PROCESSOR. FURTHER, THE PROPOSED PRINCIPLE INVESTIGATOR HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING SIGNAL PROCESSORS FOR SPACE BASED COHERENT DOPPLER SENSORS. THE PROPOSED PHASE I DEVELOPMENT APPROACH SHALL PROVIDE LIDAR PERFORMANCE MODELING, OPTIMAL PROCESSING ALGORITHMS, ARCHITECTURAL DEMONSTRATION, DETAILED DESIGN, AND AN EVALUATION OF THE SPACE LIDAR REQUIREMENTS. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE SPACE REQUIREMENTS IS TO GUIDE THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT TOWARDS BECOMING A STEPPING STONE FOR A FUTURE ONBOARD LIDAR PROCESSOR.