Study on Motion Compensated Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave 3D Coherent Imaging Ladar with Scannerless Architecture

Abstract

A principal difficulty of long dwell coherent imaging ladar is its extreme sensitivity to target or platform motion. This paper describes a motion compensated frequency modulated continuous wave 3D coherent imaging ladar method that overcomes this motion sensitivity, making it possible to work with nonstatic targets such as human faces, as well as imaging of targets through refractive turbulence. Key features of this method include scannerless imaging and high range resolution. The reduced motion sensitivity is shown with mathematical analysis and demonstration 3D images. Images of static and dynamic targets are provided demonstrating up to 600 × 800 pixel imaging with millimeter range resolution. The motion compensation decreases motion sensitivity by a factor of thousands to tens of thousands depending on the ratio of the carrier frequency to the waveform bandwidth.