Mr. Brad C. Leishman Profile

Brad C. Leishman

at Utah State Univ

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Proceedings Article | 14 May 2007 Paper

A validation procedure for a LADAR system radiometric simulation model

Brad Leishman, Scott Budge, Robert Pack

Proceedings Volume 6550, 65500G (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.720240

KEYWORDS: Sensors, LIDAR, Error analysis, Reflectivity, Pulsed laser operation, Signal detection, Systems modeling, Interference (communication), Optical simulations, Radiometry

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The USU LadarSIM software package is a ladar system engineering tool that has recently been enhanced to include the modeling of the radiometry of Ladar beam footprints. This paper will discuss our validation of the radiometric model and present a practical approach to future validation work. In order to validate complicated and interrelated factors affecting radiometry, a systematic approach had to be developed. Data for known parameters were first gathered then unknown parameters of the system were determined from simulation test scenarios. This was done in a way to isolate as many unknown variables as possible, then build on the previously obtained results. First, the appropriate voltage threshold levels of the discrimination electronics were set by analyzing the number of false alarms seen in actual data sets. With this threshold set, the system noise was then adjusted to achieve the appropriate number of dropouts. Once a suitable noise level was found, the range errors of the simulated and actual data sets were compared and studied. Predicted errors in range measurements were analyzed using two methods: first by examining the range error of a surface with known reflectivity and second by examining the range errors for specific detectors with known responsivities. This provided insight into the discrimination method and receiver electronics used in the actual system.

Proceedings Article | 19 May 2006 Paper

Simulation and modeling of return waveforms from a ladar beam footprint in USU LadarSIM

Scott Budge, Brad Leishman, Robert Pack

Proceedings Volume 6214, 62140N (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.666404

KEYWORDS: Signal detection, LIDAR, Systems modeling, Sensors, Reflectivity, Electronic filtering, Optical simulations, Bidirectional reflectance transmission function, Receivers, Gaussian pulse

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Ladar systems are an emerging technology with applications in many fields. Consequently, simulations for these systems have become a valuable tool in the improvement of existing systems and the development of new ones. This paper discusses the theory and issues involved in reliably modeling the return waveform of a ladar beam footprint in the Utah State University LadarSIM simulation software. Emphasis is placed on modeling system-level effects that allow an investigation of engineering tradeoffs in preliminary designs, and validation of behaviors in fabricated designs. Efforts have been made to decrease the necessary computation time while still maintaining a usable model. A full waveform simulation is implemented that models optical signals received on detector followed by electronic signals and discriminators commonly encountered in contemporary direct-detection ladar systems. Waveforms are modeled using a novel hexagonal sampling process applied across the ladar beam footprint. Each sample is weighted using a Gaussian spatial profile for a well formed laser footprint. Model fidelity is also improved by using a bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) for target reflectance. Once photons are converted to electrons, waveform processing is used to detect first, last or multiple return pulses. The detection methods discussed in this paper are a threshold detection method, a constant fraction method, and a derivative zero-crossing method. Various detection phenomena, such as range error, walk error, drop outs and false alarms, can be studied using these detection methods.

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