For this Phase 1 Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) project, Blackmore Sensors and Analytics and university partner Montana State University will investigate the use of coherent frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) ladar/lidar and digital holography techniques for improved performance of active imaging through fog. Coherent range, Doppler, and polarization selective digital holography (DH) will be investigated for isolating the coherent direct ballistic photons received from the target from the incoherent scattered photons that lead to large background, decreased contrast, and image blurring. Coherent polarimetric imaging will be investigated to improve the reach of the DH imaging systems. To cue the narrower field-of-view DH imaging system with target location and Doppler tracking needed to maintain long coherence times, Blackmores high resolution, coherent FMCW scanning lidar system will be utilized and optimized for operation in marine fog environments. In addition, the photon link budgets for active imaging through fog with coherent imaging technology will be validated with fog tunnel and natural fog tests using this mature system, providing high confidence models for the design of a Phase 2 prototype system. Fog measurements will include extinction, absorption, and scattering in different fog conditions.
Benefit: As part of this STTR, Blackmore will have the opportunity to further validate the theory of operation of the automotive lidar sensors in heavy fog scenarios. Heavy fog scenarios cause issues for both computer vision, camera-based navigation as well as lidar based navigation in current autonomous driving implementations. All automotive lidar system available today demonstrate severely degraded performance in fog. By further studying the improved performance of coherent lidar in fog, Blackmore will be equipped to market the advantages relative to existing lidar solutions. The specific analysis will further support interest in Blackmores systems. Industry interest led to Blackmores Series A investment in 2016 as well as a recent Series B investment in early 2018 to further drive commercialization of the product. In addition, this STTR effort provides an avenue to a secondary market of shipboard 3D imaging lidar systems for navigation and target identification for Defense and commercial applications.
Keywords: Fog, Fog, coherent imaging, frequency modulated continuous wave, Digital holography, LIDAR
