Target detection and recognition techniques of line imaging ladar sensor

A line imaging ladar sensor using linear diode laser array and linear avalanche photodiode (APD) array is developed for precise terminal guidance and intelligent proximity fuzing applications. The detection principle of line imaging ladar is discussed in detail, and design method of the line imaging ladar sensor system is given. Taking military tank target as example, simulated tank height and intensity images are obtained by the line imaging ladar simulation system. The subsystems of line imaging ladar sensor including transmitter and receiver are designed. Multi-pulse coherent algorithm and correlation detection method are adopted to improve the SNR of echo and to estimate time-of-flight, respectively. Experiment results show that the power SNR can be improved by N (number of coherent average) times and the maximum range error is 0.25 m. A few of joint transform correlation (JTC) techniques are discussed to improve noncooperative target recognition capability in height image with complex background. Simulation results show that binary JTC, non-zero-order modified fringe-adjusted JTC and non-zero-order amplitude-modulated JTC can improve the target recognition performance effectively.