SBIR Phase I: High Resolution, Low Cost, Compact 3D Imaging System

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目将展示一种新颖的三维(3D)成像系统概念，该系统将尖端高分辨率、调频连续波(FMCW)激光雷达(LADAR)与强大的特定功能成像(FSI)技术相结合。包括自主导航、物体识别和机器视觉在内的许多应用都将从快速、高分辨率的3D成像传感器中受益匪浅。不幸的是，现有的3D成像系统无法为这些应用提供距离分辨率、速度或成本效益，因为需要专用硬件，如快速焦平面阵列或机械扫描组件。宽带FMCW LADAR技术和先进的FSI技术的结合将使3D成像系统具有无与伦比的距离分辨率、没有移动部件和单一探测器元件，并且它仍将提供与当前最先进的2D成像解决方案相当的尺寸、帧速率和成本。该项目的研究目标包括展示FMCW LADAR单元的关键组件和性能，并将该单元与先进的FSI物理设计和算法相结合。该组合系统将用于演示单像素3D成像系统。最后，将评估基于这一概念的实用成像系统的可行性。该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发一种实用、低成本、高分辨率的3D成像系统，其应用包括工业机器视觉、车辆防撞系统、安全和监视成像系统、机器人的自主导航和对象识别单元。因此，该系统将提高制造的质量和效率，改善道路和工作场所的安全，为关键的安全需求提供可靠的物体存在和场景变化信息，并提高机器人的感知能力。目前可用的3D成像系统对于这些应用来说太大、太慢、太昂贵。通过与成熟的行业领先者合作，拟议的技术将针对这些应用进行开发。通过建立关键的行业合作伙伴关系和瞄准理想的进入市场，预计到2014年，这一产品线的收入将增长至近3000万美元。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will demonstrate a novel, three-dimensional (3D) imaging system concept that combines cutting-edge high-resolution, frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) Laser Radar (LADAR) with powerful Feature Specific Imaging (FSI) techniques. Many applications including autonomous navigation, object recognition, and machine vision would benefit greatly from fast, high-resolution 3D imaging sensors. Unfortunately, existing 3D imaging systems cannot offer the range resolution, speed, or cost effectiveness for these applications due to required specialized hardware such as fast-focal-plane arrays or mechanical scanning components. The combination of broadband FMCW LADAR technology and advanced FSI techniques will enable a 3D imaging system with unrivalled range resolution, no moving parts, and a single detector element, and it will still offer comparable size, frame rates, and cost as current state-of-the-art 2D imaging solutions. The research objectives for this project include demonstrating the critical components and performance of the FMCW LADAR unit, and combining this unit with an advanced FSI physical design and algorithm. This combined system will be used to demonstrate a single pixel 3D imaging system. Lastly, the feasibility of a practical imaging system based on this concept will be assessed. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is the development of a practical, low-cost, high-resolution 3D imaging system that has applications including industrial machine vision, vehicle collision avoidance systems, security and surveillance imaging systems, autonomous navigation and object recognition units for robots. The system will therefore improve the quality and efficiency of manufacturing, improve safety on the roadways and the workplace, provide reliable object presence and scene change information for crucial security needs, and advance the perception capabilities of robots. Presently available 3D imaging systems are far too large, slow and costly for these applications. By partnering with established industry leaders, the proposed technology will be developed for these applications. By building key industry partnerships and targeting ideal entry markets, estimated revenues from this product line will grow to nearly $30M by 2014.