L2M NSERC - Coherence-based LiDAR

激光成像、检测和测距(LiDAR)技术被用于许多应用，包括地形测量、速度测量、目标检测，以及最近用于检测自主导航的小障碍物，以及在面对气候变化时监测海平面。通常，LiDAR系统工作在高信噪比(SNR)区域。这意味着，需要明亮的激光脉冲能量来克服环境噪声(日光)，以便可靠地检测反射信号。需要能够在较低激光能量下工作的LiDAR系统。首先，这将有助于秘密行动，在这种情况下，明亮的激光光源可能会暴露传感器的位置，或者干扰成像系统。能够在较低的信号电平下操作，还可以实现更宽的视角和更远的范围。到目前为止，使用较低功率的激光一直是传统激光雷达系统的主要技术挑战，因为它们将不再在高信噪比条件下运行。周围的光学噪声淹没了微弱的信号，使检测几乎不可能。我们的研究团队设计并演示了一种低信噪比激光雷达系统，该系统可以消除噪声并增强激光信号的特征。可用于远程目标探测的最新技术使用的激光功率范围从瓦到千瓦。使用这种高强度的光是为了能够可靠地检测反射光。对于秘密行动，目标是禁止外部各方对非常明亮的光线进行检测。我们的技术工作在毫瓦级，这意味着很难在一开始就检测到光线，但同时实现了噪声消除以提高信噪比。据我们所知，没有其他供应商提供类似的解决方案。

Laser imaging, Detection, and Ranging (LiDAR) technology is used for many applications including topographical surveying, velocity measurement, target-detection, and more recently for detecting small obstructions for autonomous navigation, as well as monitoring sea levels in the face of climate change. Typically, LiDAR systems operate in the high Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) regime. Meaning, bright laser pulse energies are required to overcome ambient noise (daylight) for the reliable detection of reflected signal. There is a need for LiDAR systems capable of operating at lower laser energies. First and foremost, this will help in covert operations, where a bright laser source could reveal the position of the sensor, or interfere with imaging systems. Capability to operate at lower signal levels also enables a wider angle of view and longer ranges. So far, using lower-powered lasers has been a major technical challenge for conventional LiDAR systems as they would no longer operate in a high-SNR regime. The ambient optical noise floods the weak signal and makes detection nearly impossible. Our research team has designed and demonstrated a low-SNR LiDAR system which cancels out noise and enhances the signature of the laser signal. The latest technology available for long-range target-detection uses laser powers in the range of watts to kilowatts. This high intensity of light is used in order to enable reliable detection of reflected light. For covert operation, the goal is to disable detection by external parties of the very same bright light. Our technology operates at milliwatt level, meaning it is hard to detect the light in the first place, but at the same time achieves a noise cancellation to increase the SNR. To our knowledge, no other vendor provides a similar solution.