SBIR Phase I:Multi-functional, Programmable LADAR using Photonics Arbitrary Waveform Generation

SBIR 第一阶段：使用光子学任意波形生成的多功能可编程激光雷达

• 批准号: 0810530
• 负责人: Benjamin Dingel
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Nasfine Photonics, Inc.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2008-07-01 至 2009-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0810530&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SBIR; Phase; Multi; functional; Programmable

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 1 project will investigate the feasibility of a potentially disruptive, new Laser Ranging and Detection (LADAR) sensor system with programmable, multi-waveform capability using an emerging technology of Time-lens Pulse Generator (TLPG)?based Photonics Arbitrary Waveform Generator (P-AWG) or TLPG?based P-AWG for short. In complete contrast to traditional P-AWG, the proposed TLPG?based P-AWG does not consider the functions of Optical Pulse Generator (OPG) and Arbitrary Waveform Generator (AWG) blocks as separate per se. In fact, it generates the arbitrary optical waveforms during the pulse generation itself (or in OPG) by using the time-lens concept. This new TLPG?based PAWG architecture is a cost-effective and robust since it uses Continuous Wave (CW) laser instead of expensive mode-locked lasers (MLL) and/or supercontinuum (SC) sources. This translates to (i) simple set-up, (ii) low optical insertion loss, (iv) compact size, and (v) most importantly overall low-cost. The proposed innovation is a significant yet simple modification of existing PAWG that has far-reaching significance. Phase 1 will be limited to (i) developing model & inverse algorithm for calculating the required RF data signal to generate 4 waveform shapes namely; square, triangle, and impulse waveform, in TLPG?based PAWG, (ii) performing proof-of-concept experiment for TLPG?based PAWG, and (iii) developing preliminary engineering design of the highly resonant optical/microwave ring resonator unit. If successful the result of this project will have broad commercial, scientific, homeland security, military impact. This new high performance P-AWG-based LADAR addresses the needs for new capabilities above and beyond what conventional LADAR solutions can offer. The commercial applications include high resolution (1) remote aerial mapping, ground surveying, and 3D-modeling for urban planning, (2) autonomous vehicle navigation, machinery guidance and collision avoidance for transportation safety and preventive systems, (3) automated process control, quality control, monitoring and ranging for mobile robot in manufacturing and industrial sites. In the scientific and homeland security arena, this superior P-AWG-based LADAR can be used for global climatology monitoring, environmental sensing, geographic surveying, chemical and biological weapon detection to detect additional target characteristics as well as operate effectively under challenging environmental conditions. Furthermore, its increased resolution from tailored waveforms will aid in the identification of unknown materials or structures. In addition this new smart LADAR is a key subsystem in military applications such as: laser munitions seekers, airborne reconnaissance, active/passive surveillance, anti-ship missile tracking, targeting systems, and imaging sensors for manned/unmanned autonomous robotic ground/air vehicles to name a few.

这个小型企业创新研究 (SBIR) 第一阶段项目将研究具有可编程、多波形功能的潜在颠覆性新型激光测距和检测 (LADAR) 传感器系统的可行性，该系统使用基于时间透镜脉冲发生器 (TLPG) 的光子学任意波形发生器 (P-AWG) 或简称为基于 TLPG 的 P-AWG 新兴技术。与传统的 P-AWG 完全不同，所提出的基于 TLPG 的 P-AWG 并不将光脉冲发生器 (OPG) 和任意波形发生器 (AWG) 模块的功能本身视为独立的。事实上，它通过使用时间透镜概念在脉冲生成过程中（或在 OPG 中）生成任意光波形。这种基于 TLPG 的新型 PAWG 架构具有成本效益且坚固耐用，因为它使用连续波 (CW) 激光器而不是昂贵的锁模激光器 (MLL) 和/或超连续谱 (SC) 源。这意味着（i）简单的设置，（ii）低光学插入损耗，（iv）紧凑的尺寸，以及（v）最重要的是整体低成本。所提出的创新是对现有 PAWG 的重大而简单的修改，具有深远的意义。第一阶段将仅限于 (i) 开发模型和逆算法，用于计算生成 4 种波形形状所需的 RF 数据信号；在基于 TLPG 的 PAWG 中生成方形、三角形和脉冲波形，(ii) 对基于 TLPG 的 PAWG 进行概念验证实验，以及 (iii) 开发高谐振光学/微波环形谐振器单元的初步工程设计。如果该项目成功，将产生广泛的商业、科学、国土安全和军事影响。这种基于 P-AWG 的新型高性能 LADAR 满足了对传统 LADAR 解决方案之外的新功能的需求。商业应用包括高分辨率（1）用于城市规划的远程航空测绘、地面测量和 3D 建模，（2）用于运输安全和预防系统的自主车辆导航、机械引导和防撞，（3）制造和工业现场中移动机器人的自动化过程控制、质量控制、监控和测距。在科学和国土安全领域，这种基于 P-AWG 的先进激光雷达可用于全球气候监测、环境传感、地理测量、化学和生物武器探测，以探测其他目标特征，并在具有挑战性的环境条件下有效运行。此外，定制波形提高的分辨率将有助于识别未知材料或结构。此外，这种新型智能激光雷达是军事应用中的关键子系统，例如：激光弹药导引头、机载侦察、主动/被动监视、反舰导弹跟踪、瞄准系统以及有人/无人自主机器人地面/空中车辆的成像传感器等。