Project Title:

Laboratory Demonstration of Innovative, Compact Three-Dimensional Imaging Sensor

09.05-5649
900933
Laboratory Demonstration of Innovative, Compact Three-Dimensional Imaging Sensor

Abstract:

This project will experimentally determine the feasibility of obtaining a high resolution,
three-dimensional image of a scene using an innovative, focal-plane processor to
produce a compact optical sensor. The innovative technique is in the gating of the
image intensifier to demodulate an amplitude modulated laser beam. This optical homodyne
process uses focal-plane processing to acquire the three-dimensional scene. The advantages
of this sensor over existing sensors will be reduced size and weight, reduced power
consumption, and increased reliability. The sensor's range and reflectance imagery
performance will be equal to or exceed current-generation sensors. This three-dimensional
sensor can be used to enhance the performance of NASA tasks which include autonomous
and tele-operated robotic applications for maintenance and satellite retrieval as
well as space vehicle rendezvous and docking. The efforts will use five major components:
 an RF modulated laser diode; an imaging lens; a gated image intensifier; a CCD camera;
and a data acquisition system. This configuration will be used to obtain range imagery
and to characterize fully the focal-plane signal processing, Fourier terms, and system
effects from laser power, ambient light, standoff distance, and target reflectivity.
In the maturing field of image processing and machine vision, there is potential
for using a three-dimensional sensor as a substitute for a two-dimensional video
camera to improve performance in quality control, mensuration, robotic bin picking
applications, and autonomous guided vehicle maneuverability. A sensor of this type
is also suitable for use on tele-operated robotic manipulators for hazardous waste,
nuclear contaminated sites, and bomb disposal.
three-dimensional, focal-plane signal processing, image intensifier