Lookdown and loitering LADAR system

• US 8,284,382 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2009
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Krasutsky, Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): RATCLIFFE, LUKE D
• Application Number:
  US12/467,118
• Publication Number:
  US 20100073664A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 356 301- 315, 356 401- 41, 356 501- 515, 356 6- 22, 356 28- 285
• US Class Current: 356/4.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/42 Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S17/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4811 common to transmitter and receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4813 Housing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4817 relating to scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/484 Transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/16 Housings; Caps; Mountings; Supports, e.g. with counterweight

Abstract

A LADAR system and with lookdown and loitering capabilities is disclosed. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a LADAR sensor and a gimbal. The LADAR sensor is mounted to the gimbal, which is capable of scanning in azimuth sufficient to provide a look down and loitering capability. In another aspect, a method includes flying an airborne vehicle through an environment; and scanning a LADAR signal forward and to at least one side into a field of regard.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

flying an airborne vehicle through an environment;

loitering over an area within a field of regard for the airborne vehicle;

scanning a LADAR signal forward and to at least one side and at least 90°

off a boresight into the field of regard while loitering; and

tracking a target while loitering.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein flying the airborne vehicle includes flying a flying submunition, a guided weapon system, a reconnaissance drone, or a manned aircraft.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein scanning the LADAR signal includes scanning in azimuth through 180°

.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein scanning in azimuth through 180°

includes scanning through ±

90°

off the boresight.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising banking the airborne vehicle while loitering.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising designating the target from aboard the airborne vehicle.

7. An apparatus, comprising

a LADAR sensor;

a gimbal to which the LADAR sensor is mounted, the gimbal being capable of scanning in azimuth sufficient to provide a look down and loitering capability;

a platform defining a chamber in which the LADAR sensor and gimbal are housed; and

a faceted window in the platform closing the chamber.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the gimbaled transceiver is capable of scanning in azimuth through at least 180°

.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the gimbaled transceiver is capable of scanning through at least ±

90°

off a boresight.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the gimbaled transceiver is capable of transmitting at least 90°

off a boresight.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the platform is a vehicle.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the vehicle is an airborne vehicle.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the window is hemispherical.

14. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the window is hyperspherical.

15. A wide-angle LADAR system, comprising:

a platform defining a chamber;

a faceted window closing the chamber; and

a gimbaled LADAR sensor housed in the closed chamber capable of scanning in azimuth substantially through 180° and

housed in the chamber to scan through the faceted window.

16. The LADAR system of claim 15, wherein the platform is a vehicle.

17. The LADAR system of claim 16, wherein the vehicle is an airborne vehicle.

18. The LADAR system of claim 15, further comprising a laser designator mounted on-gimbal with the LADAR sensor.

34. The LADAR system of claim 15, further comprising:

an off-gimbal LADAR laser; and

a large mode area fiber over which the beam generated by the LADAR laser is transmitted to the LADAR sensor.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

an airborne vehicle defining a chamber in the forward end thereof;

a faceted window closing the chamber;

a gimbaled LADAR sensor housed in the closed chamber capable of scanning in azimuth substantially through 180° and

housed in the chamber to scan through the faceted window; and

a laser designator mounted on-gimbal with the LADAR sensor.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the gimbaled transceiver is capable of scanning in azimuth through at least 180°

.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the laser designator and the LADAR sensor are co-aligned.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the laser designator is pointed independently of the gimbal pointing direction.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the laser designator receives pointing and targeting information from the LADAR sensor.

24. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

an off-gimbal LADAR laser; and

a large mode area fiber over which the beam generated by the LADAR laser is transmitted to the LADAR sensor.

25. A method, comprising:

flying an airborne vehicle through an environment;

scanning a LADAR signal forward and to at least one side and at least 90°

off a boresight into a field of regard; and

designating a target from aboard the airborne vehicle.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the designation employs LADAR information extracted aboard the airborne vehicle.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the designation is performed by the LADAR transmitter.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the designation is performed by a laser designator separate from the LADAR transmitter.

29. The method of claim 28, where the designation is performed on a gimbal to which the LADAR transmitter is mounted.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein scanning the LADAR signal includes scanning in azimuth through 180°

.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the laser designator and the LADAR sensor are co-aligned.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the laser designator is pointed independently of the gimbal pointing direction.

33. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the laser designator receives pointing and targeting information from the LADAR sensor.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein scanning in azimuth through 180°

includes scanning through ±

90°

off the boresight.

40. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the gimbaled LADAR sensor is capable of transmitting at least 90°

off a boresight.

41. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the apparatus is a vehicle.

36. An apparatus, comprising

a LADAR sensor;

a gimbal to which the LADAR sensor is mounted, the gimbal being capable of scanning in azimuth sufficient to provide a look down and loitering capability; and

a laser designator mounted on-gimbal with the LADAR sensor.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the gimbal is capable of scanning in azimuth through at least 180°

.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the gimbal is capable of scanning through at least ±

90°

off a boresight.

39. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the gimbal is capable of transmitting at least 90°

off a boresight.

42. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the vehicle is an airborne vehicle.