Occluded target viewing and identification high-resolution 2D imaging laser radar

Robert J. Grasso; George F. Dippel; Kristen D. Cecchetti; John C. Wikman; David P. Drouin; Paul I. Egbert

doi:10.1117/12.734558

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12 September 2007 Occluded target viewing and identification high-resolution 2D imaging laser radar

Robert J. Grasso, George F. Dippel, Kristen D. Cecchetti, John C. Wikman, David P. Drouin, Paul I. Egbert

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Proceedings Volume 6661, Imaging Spectrometry XII; 66610C (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.734558
Event: Photonic Devices + Applications, 2007, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

BAE SYSTEMS has developed a high-resolution 2D imaging laser radar (LADAR) system that has proven its ability to detect and identify hard targets in occluded environments, through battlefield obscurants, and through naturally occurring image-degrading atmospheres. Limitations of passive infrared imaging for target identification using medium wavelength infrared (MWIR) and long wavelength infrared (LWIR) atmospheric windows are well known. Of particular concern is that as wavelength is increased the aperture must be increased to maintain resolution, hence, driving apertures to be very larger for long-range identification; impractical because of size, weight, and optics cost. Conversely, at smaller apertures and with large f-numbers images may become photon starved with long integration times. Here, images are most susceptible to distortion from atmospheric turbulence, platform vibration, or both. Additionally, long-range identification using passive thermal imaging is clutter limited arising from objects in close proximity to the target object.

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Robert J. Grasso, George F. Dippel, Kristen D. Cecchetti, John C. Wikman, David P. Drouin, and Paul I. Egbert "Occluded target viewing and identification high-resolution 2D imaging laser radar", Proc. SPIE 6661, Imaging Spectrometry XII, 66610C (12 September 2007); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.734558

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