Heterodyne lidar for wire detection and obstacle warning

Heinrich Karning; James F. Ruger; Martin Weispfenning

doi:10.1117/12.20552

1 October 1990 Heterodyne lidar for wire detection and obstacle warning

Heinrich Karning, James F. Ruger, Martin Weispfenning

Proceedings Volume 1276, CO2 Lasers and Applications II; (1990) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.20552
Event: The International Congress on Optical Science and Engineering, 1990, The Hague, Netherlands

Abstract

A C02-Heterodyne Laser Radar-System for detection of wires and obstacles encountered by helicopters flying at low altitudes is being developed. The main requirement is to detect wires of 3 mm diameter at distances greater than 3oo m under good weather condition and 5o m at low visibility. The sensor field of view is 600 azimuth by 300 elevation with a frame rate of 5 Hz. A scanner configuration using counter- rotating pairs of optical wedges for azimuth and elevation scanning in conjunction with a fast scanning micro scanner allows a good spatial coverage of the field of view. A Q-switched CO2 waveguide laser delivering a 2oo ms pulse at a pulse repetition frequency of approximately loo kHz provides a relatively large number of returns from thin wires per scan. Range measurement is determined by the time of flight of the emitted laser pulse. Together with the corresponding scanner position the range data is processed to give a rough three-dimensional representation of the scenario.

Citation Download Citation

Heinrich Karning, James F. Ruger, and Martin Weispfenning "Heterodyne lidar for wire detection and obstacle warning", Proc. SPIE 1276, CO2 Lasers and Applications II, (1 October 1990); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.20552

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