Accession Number:

AD1031243

Title:

Real Time Coincidence Processing Algorithm for Geiger Mode LADAR using FPGAs

Descriptive Note:

Technical Report

Corporate Author:

MIT Lincoln Laboratory Lexington United States

Personal Author(s):

• Rufo,Antonio A
• Vasile,Alexandru N
• Muller ,Lon
• Francis,Thomas K

Report Date:

2017-01-09

Pagination or Media Count:

13.0

Abstract:

This paper introduces the first ever Geiger-mode ladar processing algorithm that is suitable for implementation on an FPGA enabling real time processing and data downlink. Current airborne Geiger-mode ladar systems obtain high resolution and wide area coverage, but require sensors and processing counterparts with large size, weight, and power SWaP requirements. We are developing an airborne Micro-ladar system that collects up to 1 billion samplessec, weighs on the order of 250 grams, consumes no more than 20W and fits in a package not much larger than a coffee cup 320cc. To reduce SWaP, we developed embedded FPGA real time processing algorithms that take noisy raw data, streaming at upwards of 1GBsec, and filters the data to obtain a nearly noise-free 3D point cloud with high compression rates, resulting in a2MBsec output data rate that can be readily downlinked to the ground over typical UAV communication links. A physical 64x256 Geiger-mode ladar array was integrated with an FPGA processing board running a baseline processing algorithm where the processing board has 8 orders of magnitude lower SWaP m3kgW than typical airborne ladar processing systems. Quantitative results using simulated ladar data input indicate that the new FPGA algorithm produces data with quality comparable with previous state of the art 3D ladar processing algorithms while suffering a reduction in area coverage rates.

Descriptors:

• laser radar
• field programmable gate arrays
• unmanned aerial vehicles
• autonomous navigation
• high resolution
• peak values
• point clouds
• algorithms
• focal plane arrays
• convolution

Subject Categories:

• Active and Passive Radar Detection and Equipment

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE