Advanced system model for 1574-nm imaging scannerless eye-safe laser radar

Ulrich Schael; Hendrik Rothe

doi:10.1117/12.452316

22 October 2002 Advanced system model for 1574-nm imaging, scannerless, eye-safe laser radar

Ulrich Schael, Hendrik Rothe

Proceedings Volume 4780, Surface Scattering and Diffraction for Advanced Metrology II; (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.452316
Event: International Symposium on Optical Science and Technology, 2002, Seattle, WA, United States

Abstract

Laser radar based on gated viewing uses narrow laser pulses to illuminate a whole scene for direct (incoherent) detection. Due to the time of flight principle and a very fast shutter with precisely controlled delay time, only light reflected in the range R (range slice ΔR) is detected by a camera. Scattered light which reaches the shutter outside a given exposure time (gate) is suppressed. Hence, it is possible to "look" along the optical axis through changing atmospheric transmissions (rain, haze, fog, snow). For each laser pulse, the grey value image ES(x,y) of the camera is captured by a framegrabber for subsequent evaluation. Image sequences from these laser radar systems are ideally suited to recognize objects, because of the automatic contrast generation of the technology. Difficult object recognition problems, detection, target tracking, or obstacle avoidance at bad weather conditions are favorite applications. In this paper we discuss improvements in the system modelling and simulation of our laser radar system. Formerly the system performance was calculated for the whole system using the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), leading to a general estimation of the maximum range of target detection. Changing to a pixel oriented approach, we are now able to study the system response for targets with arbitrary two and even three dimensional form. We take into account different kinds of target reflectivity and the Gaussian nature of the illuminating laser spot. Hence it is possible to simulate gray value images (range slices) and calculate range images. This will lead to a modulation transfer function for the system in future. Finally, the theoretical considerations are compared with experimental results from indoor measurements.

Citation Download Citation

Ulrich Schael and Hendrik Rothe "Advanced system model for 1574-nm imaging, scannerless, eye-safe laser radar", Proc. SPIE 4780, Surface Scattering and Diffraction for Advanced Metrology II, (22 October 2002); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.452316

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