N101-083 TITLE: Fast, High Resolution 3-D Flash LIDAR Imager

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Sensors, Battlespace

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: Sea Shield FNC, PMS-495

RESTRICTION ON PERFORMANCE BY FOREIGN CITIZENS (i.e., those holding non-U.S. Passports): This topic is "ITAR Restricted." The information and materials provided pursuant to or resulting from this topic are restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120 - 130, which control the export of defense-related material and services, including the export of sensitive technical data. Foreign Citizens may perform work under an award resulting from this topic only if they hold the "Permanent Resident Card", or are designated as "Protected Individuals" as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). If a proposal for this topic contains participation by a foreign citizen who is not in one of the above two categories, the proposal will be rejected.

OBJECTIVE: The objective is to develop an innovative fast, high resolution 3-D flash LIDAR imager to detect targets in the surf zone (SZ) and very shallow water (VSW) from a Tactical UAV. In particular, a high resolution, high dynamic range, fast gate, high integration/sampling rate 3-D Flash LIDAR imager for underwater imaging

DESCRIPTION: The current 3-D Flash LIDAR imaging systems have shown the usefulness of 3-D imaging and many lessons have been learned such as the need for narrow gate widths and higher resolution. The ability to detect underwater targets in the SZ with a 3-D volumetric imaging system has been demonstrated. This effort is to develop a 3-D Flash LIDAR imager to detect targets in the SZ and VSW from a Tactical UAV. This development will require innovations at the chip level to achieve improved pixel count (100,000 pixels or greater), high number of narrow time samples (40 or more), faster gate times (less than 3 nanoseconds), and better SNR. These advancements will provide airborne, ground-based, and sub-surface systems with imaging capabilities beyond those currently available all with reduced cost, size, weight, and power requirements.

PHASE I: Design a high resolution 3-D Flash LIDAR imager for the detection of targets in the SZ and VSW from a TUAV

PHASE II: Fabricate and test the high resolution 3-D Flash LIDAR imager developed in Phase I

PHASE III: Develop and integrate the high resolution 3-D Flash LIDAR imager into the Sea Shield FNC and/or the acquisition programs COBRA and ALMDS.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: The ability to enhance detection of littoral zone targets would also be useful in natural disaster assessment and would also benefit coastal zone surveys, environmental assessments, and search and rescue systems.

REFERENCES:
1. Rapid Overt Airborne Reconnaissance (ROAR) for Mines and Obstacles in very shallow water, surf zone, and beach; Proc. SPIE, Vol. 5089, 214 (2003); Steve Moran, et.al, Lite Cycles Incorporated (USA).

KEYWORDS: 3-D Flash LIDAR, Littoral MCM, Airborne Reconnaissance, Underwater Imager, 3-D Camera, Mine Detection

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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