Dual Imager Augmented LIDAR

A Passively Augmented Lidar (PAL) nominally incorporates a LWIR focal plane array and a scanning LIDAR with smaller field of regard and shorter wavelength to gather more detailed information about a small segment of the scene.  The polarization and wavelength may also be variable to extract more information.  We propose to look at using an FPA to analyze the laser returns as well.  Although a large imager can’t sample many MegaHertz like a photodiode can, multiple samples can determine range gating within a few feet of light travel distance so may be an important building block in a flexible, low cost future PAL seeker. Previous work has shown applicability of similar techniques to Semi Active Laser (SAL) seekers.