SBIR-STTR Award

Autonomous Technologies Corporation is developing a technique for making highly accurate angle measurements using a new approach to processing monopulse heterodyne laser radar signals. The advantage over current monopulse signal processing concepts is that the effects of laser speckle are decoupled from the angle measurement. Phase I consisted of both analysis and simulation which produced a foundation of understanding for Phase II. The angle estimation algorithm which is being developed, based on measurements to be conducted during Phase II, will process both the relative amplitude and relative phase of the return signal for adjacent detector channels. The technology which is being developed may be applied to applications as diverse as strategic target weapons system fire control and tracking the random, involuntary motions of eyes for examination and surgical applications.

The objective of the proposed monopulse signal processing approach is to decouple laser speckle from target angle error measurements. The coherent laser radar monopulse signal processing implementation that has been conceptually designed in Phase I will be capable of processing both the amplitude and phase information that is contained in the monopulse return. The Phase II program will have two major activities: 1. a detailed simulation which will address both the amplitude and phase aspects of the heterodyne mixing process, complex target signatures,representative acquisition uncertainties due to target/sensor platform dynamics, and angle error algorithm optimization, and 2. the design and fabrication of data acquisition hardware/software that will be used to collect diverse data sets, against a variety of targets, which will enable the validation of the simulation as well as increase its fidelity.