GOALI: Accurate, High Resolution Ladar for 3D Metrology at Large Standoff Distances

该研究项目的研究目标是将调频连续波激光雷达（也称为激光雷达）应用于高分辨率，非接触式，大体积，三维计量。由于来自有限尺寸的接收器光学器件的光学衍射，光学三维计量的非接触方法在较长范围内受到限制。然而，可调谐激光源现在可以提供足够的光学带宽以实现50微米以下的测距分辨率，测量精度以在几十米距离处的短积分时间内漫射小于光波长的目标。本项目的方法是利用可调谐激光源提供的超高距离分辨率，并应用三边测量和合成孔径成像技术来利用该分辨率进行横向于光传播的测量。该项目将研究来自多个移动和固定孔径的超高分辨率三维合成孔径图像的形成和精确配准。对于计量应用，激光源的调谐速率必须稳定且精确校准。因此，一个子目标将研究校准测量系统的基本和实际限制。如果成功，该研究项目的好处将包括一个新的准确的，大规模的，非接触的，工业计量的新方法的示范。这种方法可以使航空航天和能源等制造大型精密机械的行业受益，提高制造速度和成本，并通过更严格的公差提高机器寿命。这将有助于加强美国的制造业基础，有利于国民经济。该项目还将帮助教育和培训蒙大拿州立大学光谱实验室的光学和工程学生，这是一个独特的大学研究环境，包括与蒙大拿州农村地区的当地光学行业密切合作，蒙大拿州是EPSCoR成员国。

The research objective of this Grant Opportunity for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI) project is to apply frequency modulated continuous wave laser radar, also known as ladar, to high resolution, non-contact, large-volume, three-dimensional metrology. Non-contact methods of optical three-dimensional metrology are limited at longer ranges due to optical diffraction from finite sized receiver optics. Tunable laser sources, however, can now provide sufficient optical bandwidth to achieve ranging resolution of sub 50 microns with measurement precisions to diffuse targets of less than an optical wavelength in short integration times at tens of meter distances. The approach of this project is use the ultra-high range resolution provided by tunable laser sources, and apply trilateration and synthetic aperture imaging techniques to leverage this resolution for measurements transverse to the optical propagation. The project will investigate the formation and accurate registration of ultra-high resolution three-dimensional synthetic aperture images from multiple moving and stationary apertures. For metrology applications the tuning rate of the laser source must be stable and accurately calibrated. Therefore, a sub-objective will research the fundamental and practical limits to calibrating the measurement system.If successful, the benefits of the research project will include demonstration of a novel new method for accurate, large-scale, non-contact, industrial metrology. This method could benefit industries such as aerospace and energy that manufacture very large precision machinery, improving the speed and cost of manufacturing and improve machine life through tighter tolerances. This will help strengthen the United States' manufacturing base and benefit the national economy. This project will also help educate and train students in optics and engineering at Montana State University-Spectrum Lab a unique university research environment that includes close collaboration with the local optics industry in largely rural Montana, which is an EPSCoR member state.