Polarization Laser Detection and Ranging (LADAR)

Optical Insights (OI) proposes to successfully marry its polarization imaging technology with LADAR imaging technology to create an integrated imaging system. The introduction, by OI, of its multi-channel imaging technology makes simultaneous acquisitionof two-dimensional polarization images possible using a low-cost, portable, lightweight, and rugged optical system. OI will team with LADAR system manufacturer, Schwartz Electro-Optics, Inc. (SEO), to create the integrated system. The Phase I effort willsignificantly contribute to the state-of-the-art by (a) quantitatively defining the requirements for coupling polarization and LADAR imaging into a single imaging system using existing technologies and products and (b) developing a conceptual design, basedon the defined requirements, to marry two separate, but complementary, technologies for improving target detection and discrimination. While most Phase I efforts attempt to establish the feasibility of design ideas via modeling or simple breadboardexperiments, this Phase I effort will accomplish a more thorough and convincing feasibility study by leveraging products that have already been developed for these purposes. OI and SEO propose using their existing base of products to carry out the initialfeasibility assessment. With minor modifications, both products can work side-by-side to acquire both polarization and LADAR images of the same scene.There are a variety of applications that could benefit greatly from a portable polarization LADAR imagingsystem. Aside from the target identification and discrimination applications in the defense industry, polarization LADAR imaging systems can be useful in meteorological applications such as identification of the constituents of cloud formation fordetermining storm development. The aviation sector as well as the department for transportation (DOT) represents two other markets that can use polarization LADAR sensing. In both cases it can be used to identify ice formation (on wings, runways androads) and fog for collision and crash avoidance. Additionally, polarization LADAR imaging can have significant utility in crop inspection applications. Recent research has suggested that polarized laser remote-sensing measurements can be correlated tocrop yield, the NDVI, and the leaf area index.