Low-Cost Coherent Laser Radar Wind Sensor

Wind estimation is a large component in the error budget for LCAC line-charge deployment during mine clearing operations. Currently, the Navy has no viable capability for measuring range and cross winds onboard an LCAC. CTI proposes to develop a low-cost,compact, rugged, eyesafe laser wind sensor to meet the Navy LCAC measurement requirements. This sensor will significantly increase the efficacy of LCAC mine clearing operations, resulting in considerable cost savings. Phase 1 performance modelingsuggests that a low power (250 mW) sensor will be capable of range and cross wind velocity estimation precision better than 4 and 15 cm/s respectively, at a 1 Hz update rate. System degradation by as much as 20 dB from fog, rain, sea-spray, etc. resultsin a measurement precision that still meets requirements. In the proposed Phase II program, CTI plans to build and test a brassboard version of this sensor and demonstrate performance under simulated LCAC environmental conditions. The low-cost,short-range sensor, developed in this effort, will provide 2 km high and 6 to 10 km wide dome coverage complementing CTI's long-range WindTracerr product line. Cost reductions will be realized by leveraging significant ongoing activities to develop alow-cost wind sensor for clear-air-turbulence detection onboard commercial aircraft. The proposed program will result in the development of a low-cost, compact, eye-safe, air-cooled laser transceiver for short-range wind velocity measurements. Thistechnology will have application in many military as well as commercial settings. Potential commercial applications include general aviation wind shear detection, airport wind surveillance, and environmental monitoring. Military markets include the LCAC,onboard wind sensing for military aircraft in the deployment of supplies (precision airdrop), as well as an onboard systems for gunships and helicopters to improve ballistics accuracy (ballistics winds). Naval applications such as carrier glide-slopewinds, helicopter pad wind monitoring, and gust detection are also pertinent.