Jose R. Linares

Photonics Technology Department (PTD)

Project Leaders: David A. Kozlowski, Steven M. Beck

Controlling Coherent Lidar Systemwith LabView

Why Dust Devils?

A dust devil on Mars photographed by the Spirit rover on Sol 486 (the 486th day of the Martian year). Credit: NASA

Some Applications:- Surveillance-Remote Sensing-Tracking-Soft Rotating Targets-Dust Devils

2006 Dust Strom in Arizona

2007 Dust Devil in Eloy, Arizona

2008 Tornado Vortex in El Segundo, CA

~ 700ft

~ 80ft

Deployment site: Eloy ,AzDate: May 30,2008

Coherent Lidar MethodsIlluminating Solid moving Objects

2007 Deployment

Velocity Range (Modulated by Vel.)

FFT

TimeDomain

STFT

Range with 37.5mm Resolution

x

z

y

az 2el 2 az 1el 1

H1

H2

Azimuth Scan∆

X

x

z

y

el 2az

el 1

H1H2

Elevation Scan

Scanning Capability

Images captured by IR Credit: Advanced Scientific Concepts, Inc.

Working On New Scanning Capability

- Get absolute range distances from target up to 5km

Point of Contact: David A. Kozlowski

GPS Antenna

IRIG-B Date/time stampFor Data & Video

Camera#2 is co-borsighedwith 1550nm Laser

Camera#1

Video combiner

IRIG-B date/time to Daq System

IRIG-B Date/time stamp Video to DVR

05/08/200911:01:24

System Hardware

Program Overview

Main Loop #1-Int Stage (program and instruments)-Data Capture Stage-Data Save(binary) Stage-Move Pointer Stage-Update Polar Plot Stage -Scan option -Program Close Stage

Queue is used to pass data from save stage to FFT Loop#2

Features- Scan Targets - Keeps track of the total # of captured data shots per day and per button activation- Polar plot gives us topographical pointer position - Only plots target on Google Earth if target return is greater then set filter value

FFT Loop #2-Performs FFT-based spectral measurements on target frequency response- Obtains peak frequency and calculates target distance(m) from pointer.-Calculates target latitude and longitude.- Saves calculated values as a .kml file

G.E. Loop #3-Opens .kml file-Plots calculated latitude and longitude on Google Earth target distance(m).-Also calculates target latitude and longitude

Program Front Panel

Program Block Diagram

Main Loop #1

FFT Loop #2

Goggle Earth Loop #3

Coherent Lidar Methods2007 Deployment

Challenges: Relentless Heat, Pounding Sunshine, Dust, Bugs, Snakes and Wild Dogs

FY08, funding issues made us move from this platform to

Choosing Vehicle

Wanted This

Got This

Retrofitting Cargo Container

Steve Beck Jose LinaresMike Williams

David Kozlowski

Some of the task performed during construction included

- Welding - Electricity- Install Insulation- Cut holes-Install floor-Install wood panels

Coherent LIDAR Container