Camouflage Netting for LiDAR

The next generation of Ultra-Lightweight Camouflage Net System (ULCANS) must conceal assets against detection, observation, and surveillance from current and emerging threat systems. While current camouflage systems can protect against most types of threats, they were not engineered to deter detection from LiDAR. In this effort, ThermoAnalytics Inc. and Saab Barracuda USA will develop a camouflage net system that can conceal assets against detection from LiDAR without compromising ULCANS’ other concealment capabilities. The team will continue the LiDAR testing program started in Phase I to derive at an understanding of how LiDAR systems interact with a camouflage net. A series of additional field tests will be conducted with CRREL to include more advanced LiDAR systems and testing in a variety of natural clutter environments. To support the design effort, ThermoAnalytics will develop simulation tools that can recreate the point clouds observed in the tests, simulate the LiDAR performance for different conditions and net designs, and estimate the effects that the net has on target detection. From this combination of testing and simulation, the team will design and evaluate net designs aimed at deterring detection from LiDAR. Prototypes of the overall net system will be manufactured and tested.