Development of a Lidar Wind Field Sensor (LWFS)

EOO, Inc. proposes to adapt its edge filter, pseudo-random pulse code lidar technology, which is currently being developed on NASA and internal funding, to Army needs. This direct detection approach uses a Fabry-Perot etalon edge filter to decode the Doppler shift while using a pulse code modulation and demodulation to resolve the lidar signal versus range. The wind sensor technology we are developing has several advantages over heterodyne detection lidars, including simplicity, eye-safety, range resolution, and cost. When integrated into a hybrid system with RF and MMW radars, a comprehensive, all-weather, reliable, and accurate system will result. In Phase I, we will systematically define a set of requirements for the Army's Lidar Wind Field Sensor, perform system analyses to ensure that our proposed baseline meets these requirements, perform system trades including MMW hybrid assessments, build and test critical lidar components in a laboratory breadboard, and design a baseline autonomous lidar wind sensor to be implemented in Phase II.