Dr. Farzin Amzajerdian Profile

Dr. Farzin Amzajerdian

Scientist at NASA Langley Research Ctr

SPIE Involvement:

Fellow status | Conference Chair | Conference Program Committee | Author | Editor

Area of Expertise:

Laser Remote Sensing , Atmospheric and Avionics Lidars

Publications (45)

PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | January 11, 2018

Development of LIDAR sensor systems for autonomous safe landing on planetary bodies

Proc. SPIE. 10565, International Conference on Space Optics — ICSO 2010

KEYWORDS: Doppler effect, Imaging systems, LIDAR, Sensors, Receivers, Signal processing, Velocimetry, Astronomical imaging, Algorithm development, 3D image processing

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PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | November 20, 2017

Development of lidar sensor systems for autonomous safe landing on planetary bodies

Proc. SPIE. 10565, International Conference on Space Optics — ICSO 2010

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PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | June 7, 2017

Non-mechanical beam control for entry, descent and landing laser radar (Conference Presentation)

Proc. SPIE. 10191, Laser Radar Technology and Applications XXII

KEYWORDS: Beam steering, Agriculture, Polarization, LIDAR, Remote sensing, Complex systems, Control systems, Liquid crystals, Environmental sensing, Beam controllers

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PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | May 5, 2017

Demonstration of coherent Doppler lidar for navigation in GPS-denied environments

Proc. SPIE. 10191, Laser Radar Technology and Applications XXII

KEYWORDS: Radar, Modulation, Doppler effect, Lenses, LIDAR, Sensors, Remote sensing, Robotics, Control systems, Navigation systems, Velocity measurements, Global Positioning System

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PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | May 13, 2016

3D flash lidar performance in flight testing on the Morpheus autonomous, rocket-propelled lander to a lunar-like hazard field

Proc. SPIE. 9832, Laser Radar Technology and Applications XXI

KEYWORDS: Imaging systems, LIDAR, Sensors, Calibration, Ions, Reflectivity, Navigation systems, Light sources and illumination, Neodymium, 3D image processing

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PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | May 19, 2015

Imaging flash LIDAR for safe landing on solar system bodies and spacecraft rendezvous and docking

Proc. SPIE. 9465, Laser Radar Technology and Applications XX; and Atmospheric Propagation XII

KEYWORDS: Doppler effect, Imaging systems, LIDAR, Sensors, Navigation systems, Mars, Solar system, Algorithm development, Space operations, 3D image processing

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PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | June 9, 2014

A long-distance laser altimeter for terrain relative navigation and spacecraft landing

Proc. SPIE. 9080, Laser Radar Technology and Applications XIX; and Atmospheric Propagation XI

KEYWORDS: Transmitters, LIDAR, Sensors, Laser applications, Laser development, Receivers, Navigation systems, Space operations, Signal detection, Pulsed laser operation

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PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | June 9, 2014

High-fidelity flash lidar model development

Proc. SPIE. 9080, Laser Radar Technology and Applications XIX; and Atmospheric Propagation XI

KEYWORDS: Detection and tracking algorithms, Data modeling, LIDAR, Sensors, Monte Carlo methods, Navigation systems, Algorithm development, Statistical modeling, 3D image processing, Evolutionary algorithms

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PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | March 7, 2014

A super-resolution algorithm for enhancement of flash lidar data: flight test results

Proc. SPIE. 9020, Computational Imaging XII

KEYWORDS: Super resolution, Detection and tracking algorithms, LIDAR, Image processing, 3D modeling, Navigation systems, Spatial resolution, Algorithm development, Pulsed laser operation, 3D image processing

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SPIE Conference Volume | September 25, 2013

International Symposium on Photoelectronic Detection and Imaging 2013: Laser Sensing and Imaging and Applications

PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | June 4, 2013

Helicopter flight test of 3D imaging flash LIDAR technology for safe, autonomous, and precise planetary landing

Proc. SPIE. 8731, Laser Radar Technology and Applications XVIII

KEYWORDS: Transmitters, Cameras, LIDAR, Sensors, Stereoscopy, Reflectivity, Receivers, Data acquisition, Zoom lenses, 3D image processing

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PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | May 20, 2013

Doppler lidar sensor for precision navigation in GPS-deprived environment

Proc. SPIE. 8731, Laser Radar Technology and Applications XVIII

KEYWORDS: Doppler effect, LIDAR, Sensors, Ions, Signal processing, Navigation systems, Mars, Neodymium, Environmental sensing, Prototyping

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PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | October 15, 2012

Single-frequency gain-switched Ho-doped fiber laser

Proc. SPIE. 8519, Nanophotonics and Macrophotonics for Space Environments VI

KEYWORDS: Fiber amplifiers, Modulation, Doppler effect, Scattering, Laser scattering, Fiber lasers, Q switched lasers, Pulsed laser operation, Silicate glass, Absorption

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PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | May 31, 2012

Advances in ladar components and subsystems at Raytheon

Proc. SPIE. 8353, Infrared Technology and Applications XXXVIII

KEYWORDS: Readout integrated circuits, Photon counting, Avalanche photodetectors, Mercury cadmium telluride, LIDAR, Sensors, Silicon, Receivers, Signal detection, Pulsed laser operation

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PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | September 1, 2011

Pulsed shaping high-energy fiber laser at low repetition rate

Proc. SPIE. 8164, Nanophotonics and Macrophotonics for Space Environments V

KEYWORDS: Fiber amplifiers, Optical amplifiers, Oscillators, Modulation, Laser development, Fiber lasers, Semiconductor lasers, Pulse shaping, Bragg cells, Pulsed laser operation

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PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | August 20, 2011

Lidar systems for precision navigation and safe landing on planetary bodies

Proc. SPIE. 8192, International Symposium on Photoelectronic Detection and Imaging 2011: Laser Sensing and Imaging; and Biological and Medical Applications of Photonics Sensing and Imaging

KEYWORDS: Readout integrated circuits, Super resolution, Doppler effect, LIDAR, Sensors, Image processing, Receivers, Navigation systems, Algorithm development, Space operations

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SPIE Conference Volume | August 19, 2011

International Symposium on Photoelectronic Detection and Imaging 2011: Laser Sensing and Imaging; and Biological and Medical Applications of Photonics Sensing and Imaging

PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | June 20, 2011

New developments in HgCdTe APDs and LADAR receivers

Proc. SPIE. 8012, Infrared Technology and Applications XXXVII

KEYWORDS: Readout integrated circuits, Avalanche photodetectors, Mercury cadmium telluride, LIDAR, Sensors, Receivers, Semiconducting wafers, Signal detection, Pulsed laser operation, 3D image processing

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PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | May 23, 2011

Navigation Doppler lidar sensor for precision altitude and vector velocity measurements: flight test results

Proc. SPIE. 8044, Sensors and Systems for Space Applications IV

KEYWORDS: Signal to noise ratio, Doppler effect, LIDAR, Sensors, Receivers, Control systems, Signal processing, Navigation systems, Velocity measurements, Global Positioning System

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PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | February 8, 2011

A super-resolution algorithm for enhancement of flash lidar data

Proc. SPIE. 7873, Computational Imaging IX

KEYWORDS: Super resolution, LIDAR, Sensors, Image resolution, Computer simulations, Image registration, Spatial resolution, Algorithm development, Space operations, Electromagnetic simulation

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SPIE Conference Volume | November 5, 2010

Semiconductor Lasers and Applications IV

PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | September 15, 2010

Pulse shaping fiber lasers for free-space and lidar applications

Proc. SPIE. 7817, Nanophotonics and Macrophotonics for Space Environments IV

KEYWORDS: Optical amplifiers, Modulation, LIDAR, Free space, Fiber lasers, Pulse shaping, Pulsed fiber lasers, Signal detection, Pulsed laser operation, Q switched fiber lasers

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PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | May 7, 2010

Computational experiments on super-resolution enhancement of flash lidar data

Proc. SPIE. 7684, Laser Radar Technology and Applications XV

KEYWORDS: Super resolution, Detection and tracking algorithms, Data modeling, LIDAR, Sensors, Image processing, Image resolution, Signal processing, Space operations, 3D image processing

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In this paper a new image processing technique for flash LIDAR data is presented as a potential tool to enable safe and precise spacecraft landings in future robotic or crewed lunar and planetary missions. Flash LIDARs can generate, in real-time, range data that can be interpreted as a 3-dimensional (3-D) image and transformed into a corresponding digital elevation map (DEM). The NASA Autonomous Landing and Hazard Avoidance (ALHAT) project is capitalizing on this new technology by developing, testing and analyzing flash LIDARs to detect hazardous terrain features such as craters, rocks, and slopes during the descent phase of spacecraft landings. Using a flash LIDAR for this application looks very promising, however through theoretical and simulation analysis the ALHAT team has determined that a single frame, or mosaic, of flash LIDAR data may not be sufficient to build a landing site DEM with acceptable spatial resolution, precision, size, or for a mosaic, in time, to meet current system requirements. One way to overcome this potential limitation is by enhancing the flash LIDAR output images. We propose a new super-resolution algorithm applicable to flash LIDAR range data that will create a DEM with sufficient accuracy, precision and size to meet current ALHAT requirements. The performance of our super-resolution algorithm is analyzed by processing data generated during a series of simulation runs by a high fidelity model of a flash LIDAR imaging a high resolution synthetic lunar elevation map. The flash LIDAR model is attached to a simulated spacecraft by a gimbal that points the LIDAR to a target landing site. For each simulation run, a sequence of flash LIDAR frames is recorded and processed as the spacecraft descends toward the landing site. Each run has a different trajectory profile with varying LIDAR look angles of the terrain. We process the output LIDAR frames using our SR algorithm and the results show that the achieved level of accuracy and precision of the SR generated landing site DEM is more than adequate for detecting hazardous terrain features and identifying safe areas.

PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | May 4, 2010

Advances in HgCdTe APDs and LADAR receivers

Proc. SPIE. 7660, Infrared Technology and Applications XXXVI

KEYWORDS: Readout integrated circuits, Photon counting, Avalanche photodetectors, Mercury cadmium telluride, LIDAR, Sensors, Receivers, Semiconducting wafers, Signal detection, Pulsed laser operation

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PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | January 23, 2010

Utilization of 3D imaging flash lidar technology for autonomous safe landing on planetary bodies

Proc. SPIE. 7608, Quantum Sensing and Nanophotonic Devices VII

KEYWORDS: Staring arrays, Transmitters, Doppler effect, LIDAR, Sensors, Calibration, Receivers, Signal processing, Algorithm development, 3D image processing

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SPIE Conference Volume | August 24, 2009

International Symposium on Photoelectronic Detection and Imaging 2009: Laser Sensing and Imaging

PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | May 7, 2009

Processing of three-dimensional flash lidar terrain images generating from an airborne platform

Proc. SPIE. 7329, Three-Dimensional Imaging, Visualization, and Display 2009

KEYWORDS: Clocks, Cameras, LIDAR, Image processing, Digital filtering, Interference (communication), Image filtering, Analytical research, Pulsed laser operation, 3D image processing

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PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | May 7, 2009

Flight test performance of a high precision navigation Doppler lidar

Proc. SPIE. 7323, Laser Radar Technology and Applications XIV

KEYWORDS: Signal to noise ratio, Modulation, Doppler effect, LIDAR, Sensors, Receivers, Signal processing, Velocity measurements, Global Positioning System

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SPIE Journal Paper | November 1, 2007

High-energy 2 μm Doppler lidar for wind measurements

Koch, Grady , Beyon, Jeffrey , Barnes, Bruce , Petros, Mulugeta , Yu, Jirong , Amzajerdian, Farzin , Kavaya, Michael , Singh, Upendra

OE Vol. 46 Issue 11

KEYWORDS: LIDAR, Wind measurement, Doppler effect, Backscatter, Pulsed laser operation, Wind energy, Oscillators, Clouds, Optical engineering, Heterodyning

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PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | September 26, 2007

Requirements and technology advances for global wind measurement with a coherent lidar: a shrinking gap

Proc. SPIE. 6681, Lidar Remote Sensing for Environmental Monitoring VIII

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Doppler effect, LIDAR, Aerosols, Laser energy, Laser applications, Space telescopes, Wind energy, Pulsed laser operation, Wind measurement

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PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | May 10, 2007

Improving lifetime of quasi-CW laser diode arrays for pumping 2-micron solid state lasers

Proc. SPIE. 6550, Laser Radar Technology and Applications XII

KEYWORDS: LIDAR, High power lasers, Reliability, Solid state lasers, Semiconductor lasers, Laser Doppler velocimetry, Diodes, Space operations, Pulsed laser operation, Temperature metrology

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PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | May 4, 2007

Characterization of 3-D imaging lidar for hazard avoidance and autonomous landing on the Moon

Proc. SPIE. 6550, Laser Radar Technology and Applications XII

KEYWORDS: Staring arrays, Signal to noise ratio, Transmitters, LIDAR, Sensors, Stereoscopy, Reflectivity, Receivers, 3D modeling, 3D image processing

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PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | September 10, 2005

Improving reliability of high power quasi-CW laser diode arrays for pumping solid state lasers

Proc. SPIE. 5887, Lidar Remote Sensing for Environmental Monitoring VI

KEYWORDS: Diamond, High power lasers, Remote sensing, Indium, Reliability, Solid state lasers, Semiconductor lasers, Diodes, Pulsed laser operation, Diode pumped solid state lasers

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PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | January 12, 2005

Testbed Doppler wind lidar and intercomparison facility at NASA Langley Research Center

Proc. SPIE. 5653, Lidar Remote Sensing for Industry and Environmental Monitoring V

KEYWORDS: Doppler effect, LIDAR, Sensors, Laser energy, Laser induced fluorescence, Wind energy, Space operations, Atmospheric sensing, Pulsed laser operation, Wind measurement

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PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | January 11, 2005

Advancement of high-power quasi-CW laser diode arrays for space-based laser instruments

Proc. SPIE. 5659, Enabling Sensor and Platform Technologies for Spaceborne Remote Sensing

KEYWORDS: Thermography, Diamond, High power lasers, Reliability, Laser development, Solid state lasers, Semiconductor lasers, Diodes, Pulsed laser operation, Diode pumped solid state lasers

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PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | September 13, 2004

Validar: a testbed for advanced 2-micron Doppler lidar

Proc. SPIE. 5412, Laser Radar Technology and Applications IX

KEYWORDS: Continuous wave operation, Oscillators, Doppler effect, LIDAR, Clouds, Signal processing, Gas lasers, Carbon monoxide, Pulsed laser operation, Absorption

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PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | June 1, 2004

Thermal characteristics of high-power long-pulsewidth quasi-CW laser diode arrays

Proc. SPIE. 5336, High-Power Diode Laser Technology and Applications II

KEYWORDS: Infrared cameras, Thermography, Diamond, Aerospace engineering, High power lasers, Solid state lasers, Semiconductor lasers, Diodes, Infrared radiation, Temperature metrology

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PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | February 13, 2001

Fabrication, metrology, and modeling of the space-based lidar telescope for SPARCLE

Proc. SPIE. 4153, Lidar Remote Sensing for Industry and Environment Monitoring

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Mirrors, Diamond, Metrology, LIDAR, Wavefronts, Optical fabrication, Space telescopes, Optical alignment, Optical instrument design

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PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | February 13, 2001

Lightweight lidar telescopes for space applications

Proc. SPIE. 4153, Lidar Remote Sensing for Industry and Environment Monitoring

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Mirrors, Data modeling, LIDAR, Sensors, Metals, Nickel, Space telescopes, Earth's atmosphere, Climatology

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NASA is intent on exploiting the unique perspective of space-based remote optical instruments to observe and study largescale environmental processes. Emphasis on smaller and more affordable missions continues to force the remote sensing instruments to find innovative ways to reduce the size, weight, and cost of the sensor package. This is a challenge because many of the proposed instruments incorporate a high quality meter-class telescope that can be a significant driver of total instrument costs. While various methods for telescope weight reduction have been achieved, many of the current approaches rely on exotic materials and specialized manufacturing techniques that limit availability or substantially increase costs. A competitive lightweight telescope technology that is especially well suited to space-based coherent Doppler wind lidar has been developed through a collaborative effort involving NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) through the Global Hydrology and Climate Center (GHCC) and the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) at the Center for Applied Optics (CAO). The new lightweight optics using metal alloy shells and surfaces (LOMASS) fabrication approach is suitable for high quality metal mirrors and meter-class telescopes. Compared to alternative materials and fabrication methods the new approach promises to reduce the areal density of a meter-class telescope to less than 15-kg/m2; deliver a minimum ?/1O-RMS surface optical quality; while using commercial materials and equipment to lower procurement costs. The final optical figure and finish is put into the mirrors through conventional diamond turning and polishing techniques. This approach is especially advantageous for a coherent lidar instrument because the reduced telescope weight permits the rotation of the telescope to scan the beam without requiring heavy wedges or additional large mirrors. Ongoing investigations and preliminary results show promise for the LOMASS approach to be successful in demonstrating a novel alternative approach to fabricating lightweight mirrors with performance parameters comparable with the Space Readiness Coherent Lidar Experiment (SPARCLE). Development and process characterization is continuing with the design and fabrication of mirrors for a 25-cm telescope suitable for a lidar instrument.

PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | October 22, 1999

Primary mirror manufacturing considerations for a space-based coherent lidar

Proc. SPIE. 3757, Application of Lidar to Current Atmospheric Topics III

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Mirrors, Optical design, Diamond turning, Polishing, LIDAR, Space telescopes, Plating, Optics manufacturing, Off axis mirrors

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PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | May 28, 1999

Thermal considerations for the SPARCLE optical system

Proc. SPIE. 3707, Laser Radar Technology and Applications IV

KEYWORDS: Thermography, Telescopes, LIDAR, Scanners, Silicon, Wavefronts, Space telescopes, Signal detection, Thermal modeling, Temperature metrology

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PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | October 29, 1998

Optomechanical design of a multi-axis stage for the SPARCLE telescope

Proc. SPIE. 3429, Current Developments in Optical Design and Engineering VII

KEYWORDS: Optomechanical design, Telescopes, Mirrors, Data modeling, Doppler effect, LIDAR, Sensors, Space telescopes, Optical alignment, Earth's atmosphere

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PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | July 6, 1998

Characterization of an optical subsystem for 2-um coherent lidars

Proc. SPIE. 3479, Laser Interferometry IX: Applications

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Mirrors, Interferometers, LIDAR, Scanners, Wavefronts, Space telescopes, Heterodyning, Optical alignment, Atmospheric optics

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PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | November 21, 1996

Design and fabrication of a compact lidar telescope

Proc. SPIE. 2832, Optical Instruments for Weather Forecasting

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Mirrors, Optical design, Diamond, Diamond machining, LIDAR, Wavefronts, Space telescopes, Optical instrument design, Tolerancing

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