Abstract

ABSTRACT The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Laser Remote Optical Sensing (LROS) program has developed the LaserAirborne Remote Sensing (LARS) system for chemical detection using the differential absorption lidar (DIAL) technique. Airborne tests during the last year resulted in chemical detection at a slant range of 30 km. As the next step in the development process, concepts for a compact, semi-autonomous DIAL system are being considered. This paper describes theconceptual design and external interfaces of the acquisition, processing, and control system computers required to operate asemi-autonomous DIAL system.The conceptual design ofthe VME-based real-time computer system uses three CPUs: 1) a data acquisition and control CPUwhich synchronizes experiment timing and pulsed CO2 laser operation while controlling lidar subsystem components such aspointing and tracking, wavelength sequencing, and optical alignment; 2) a data reduction CPU which serves as the semi-autonomous controller and performs real-time data reduction; and 3) a data analysis CPU which performs chemometricanalysis including chemical identification and concentration. The triple-CPU and multi-layered software decouple time-critical and non-critical tasks allowing great flexibility in flight-time display and processing.Keywords: airborne, autonomy, DIAL, real time, remote sensing

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