PFI:AIR - TT: Lidar Technologies for Remote Underwater Mapping

这个PFI：空气技术转换项目是一个概念验证项目，旨在开发、演示和评估一种创新的激光雷达(激光照明探测和测距)遥感技术，称为散射引起的脉冲内相位修正(INPHAMIS)技术，作为一种商业上可行的产品，用于浅海环境的详细测绘。INPHAMIS技术是一项突破性技术，因为它提供了前所未有的厘米分辨率来绘制浅水中的淹没物体，无缝地识别陆地到水域的过渡，获得高精度的水深测量，并提供对海底表面地形的精确描述，所有这些都是从水面以上的遥远距离。水下物体是船舶保险索赔的头号原因，提前发现它们的能力既是对人类安全的担忧，也是对经济的担忧。市场研究表明，这种类型的激光雷达系统将有助于在湖泊、浅冰川融化池塘、蚊子栖息地、海岸侵蚀和洪水流域的测绘方面促进不断增长的市场，并通过在这些不断演变的环境中至关重要的入海口和航道提供导航信息。最终的商业目标是开发一种移动激光雷达测深设备，用于本地调查，可以是船载、手持，也可以是飞船或无人驾驶航空系统。INPHAMIS技术具有以下独特特征：1厘米分辨率的浅海目标分辨率，简单的激光雷达组件，非侵入性/非接触式，基于差分测量的遥感技术，陆水过渡的连续观测，以及支持几种类型观测平台的可扩展性。INPHAMIS是一项颠覆性技术，它在降低复杂性和成本的同时，在水中实现了高分辨率的地下测绘。其他遥感技术仅限于深度超过一米或更深的水域，留下了很大一部分近岸水域没有测绘。现有的激光雷达测深系统在预期用途和功能方面都非常相似，都涉及大型、昂贵的机载系统。INPHAMIS技术的独特功能提供了性能、成本、质量、功率、体积和适应性方面的优势，通过允许在不久的将来开发用于水下测绘和水下目标识别的手持系统，打开了浅水测深的新市场。该项目解决了从研究发现到商业应用的以下技术空白：1)激光与不同的地表水条件、水下物体和底面类型的相互作用；2)性能因素和系统和测量规范的定义；3)关键激光雷达部件的贸易分析。该技术的实验室演示将被提出，以评估激光与水体和物体在真实环境的浅水条件下的相互作用。这还将提供有关确定性能因素和组件测试的数据。一名教师、研究生和一名本科生将在行业合作伙伴ASTRA LLC及其员工和工程师的支持下，在创业和技术翻译方面提供独特的学习环境。该项目聘请行业合作伙伴ASTRA LLC，ASTRA LLC将提供工程经验并进行商业化和营销研究，以评估市场空间、竞争环境、探索许可机会和技术的进一步商业化。这一强大的合作伙伴关系将推动这项技术转换工作从研究发现转向商业现实。

This PFI: AIR Technology Translation project is a proof-of-concept project to develop, demonstrate, and evaluate an innovative lidar (laser illuminated detection and ranging) remote sensing technique, called the INtrapulse PHAse Modification Induced by Scattering (INPHAMIS) technique, as a commercially viable product for detailed mapping of shallow marine environments. The INPHAMIS technique is a breakthrough technology in that it provides unprecedented, centimeter resolution to map submerged objects in shallow waters, seamlessly identifies land-to-water transitions, obtains high precision water depth measurements, and provides precise description of bottom surface topography, all from remote distances above the water. Submerged objects are the number one cause of insurance claims in watercraft and the ability to detect them in advance would take care of both a human safety concern and an economic concern. Market research indicates this type of lidar system would contribute to growing markets in the mapping of lakes, shallow glacial melt-ponds, mosquito habitat, coastal erosion, and flood basins, and provide navigation information through inlets and channels that is crucial in these ever evolving environments. The end commercial goal is to develop a mobile lidar bathymetric unit to be used for local surveys either by boat, handheld, or possibly on dirigibles or unmanned aerial systems.The INPHAMIS technique has the following unique features: 1-cm resolution in resolving objects in shallow waters, simple lidar components, noninvasive/non-contact, remote sensing technique based on a differential measurement, continuous observing over land-water transitions, and scalability to support several types of observing platforms. INPHAMIS is a disruptive technology in that it achieves high resolution subsurface mapping in water while reducing complexity and cost. Other remote sensing techniques are limited to waters deeper than a meter or more, leaving a large portion of near-shore waters unmapped. Existing lidar bathymetry systems are all quite similar in terms of intended use and capabilities and all involve large, expensive airborne systems. The INPHAMIS technique's unique features provide advantages in performance, costs, mass, power, volume, and adaptability that opens a new market in shallow-water water bathymetry by enabling the near-future development of a hand-held system for underwater mapping and subsurface target identification.This project addresses the following technology gaps as it translates from research discovery toward commercial application: 1) interactions of laser light with different surface water conditions, submerged objects, and bottom surface types; 2) performance factors and definition of system and measurement specifications; 3) trade analysis of critical lidar components. A lab demonstrator of the technique will be advanced to evaluate laser light interactions with water bodies and objects in real environmental shallow-water conditions. This will also provide data on establishing performance factors and component testing. A faculty member, graduate student, and an undergraduate student will be involved providing a unique learning environment in entrepreneurship and technology translation, with support from industry partner, ASTRA LLC, and their staff and engineers.The project engages industry partner, ASTRA LLC, which will contribute engineering experience and perform commercialization and marketing studies to assess market space, competitive environment, explore licensing opportunities and further commercialization of the technology. This strong partnership is poised to move this technology translation effort from research discovery toward commercial reality.