Range accuracy and resolution for laser radars

Abstract

Laser radars offer a potential for high range accuracy and range resolution due to short pulses and high bandwidth receivers. For angular non-resolved targets (1 D profiling) the analysis of the waveform offers the possibility of target recognition due to range profiling. For 2 D and 3 D imaging the angular and range resolution are the critical parameters for target recognition while in other applications such as in lidar mapping the range accuracy plays an important role for the performance. The development of the next generation laser radars including 3 D sensing focal plane arrays (FPAs) enable a full range and intensity image to be captured in one laser shot. Moreover, gated viewing systems also give a viable solution for providing 3 D target information. This paper uses simulation to illustrate the limits for accuracy and range resolution in waveform processing due to the laser pulse shape, detector noise, target shape and reflectivity as well as turbulence.