SBIR-STTR Award

This proposal presents a preliminary evaluation for a programmable digital signal processor for real-time producing of Lidar wind parameter measurements. A technical background of the art of peripheral digital signal processors is presented. The proposed Lidar instrument parameters are examined. A set of preliminary processor design requirements are formulated. A conceptual design of the processor is also included to provide an early evaluation of the feasibility of implementing a real-time Lidar processor using existing single chip digital signal processing (DSP) devices. The conclusion as presented here shows such an implementation is feasible. The proposing company indeed has DSP boards suitable for the lidar processor. Further, the proposed principle investigator has extensive experience in designing and implementing signal processors for space based coherent doppler sensors. The proposed Phase I development approach shall provide Lidar performance modeling, optimal processing algorithms, architectural demonstration, detailed design, and an evaluation of the space Lidar requirements. The objective of the space requirements is to guide the proposed development towards becoming a stepping stone for a future onboard Lidar processor.

This proposal presents an SBIR Phase II development for a real-time programmable lidar digital signal processor. The main objective of the development is to realize a programmable high speed signal processing system that is capable of producing real-time wind parameter maps for Air Force lidar instruments. Such as processor is needed for I) supporting real-time experiment and operation development of Air Force lidars of different wavelengths, II) evaluating the means to optimize the Doppler Estimation Process, and III) prototyping a parallel modular processor architecture that is extendable for future spaceborne lidar applications. The proposed processor will apply advanced Doppler estimation algorithms developed in the Phase I work, and an architecture of parallel programmable Digital Signal Processing (DSP) devices. The rational and significance of the implementation approach toward lidar and many other signal processing applications, and an operation demonstration of the performance and design of the proposed parallel processing using a pair of 32-bit floating point DSP devices, which meets one important milestone of the Phase I effort, will also be presented. The implementation plan and the associated cost are included in the latter part of the proposal.