Passively Augmented LiDAR using Flash LiDAR Compressive Sensing

Physical Sciences, Inc will develop a Passively Augmented LiDAR (PAL) using a Flash LiDAR Compressive Sensing (FLiCS) - Imager. This system is designed to support enhanced target detection and identification in a low SWaP-C package by pairing a wide field of view (FOV) passive polarimetric long-wave infrared imager with the narrower FOV FLiCS. FLiCS is presented with two candidate architectures: a monochromatic flash LIDAR (providing rapid frame rate, high signal to noise ratio images range images) and a spectropolarimetric flash LIDAR (providing potential for enhanced target detection and discrimination). For either architecture, a compressive sensing flash LiDAR core is leveraged.   Key benefits of the PAL-FLiCS architecture include: 100% fill factor coverage and increased spatio-temporal diversity of measurements (both of which increase potential for obscurant penetration), reduced data volume, increased immunity to hot spots background and air column backscatter rejection The Phase I program will focus on evaluating the efficacy of PAL-FLiCS sensing modalities via analytical modeling in the context of target detection and identification.  This work will culminate with selection of a PAL-FLiCS architectures and the development of a conceptual design for the prototype to be built under the Phase II effort.