• Technical Conference:  05 – 10 May 2024
  • The CLEO Hub: 07 – 09 May 2024

SC477 - LiDAR and Remote Sensing: An Application-Oriented Introduction

Monday, 06 May
13:30 - 17:30

Short Course Level: Advanced Beginner and Intermediate

Instructor:

Fabio Di Teodoro, Raytheon, USA

Short Course Description:

LiDAR and active remote sensing entail the integration of a laser source, optical-beam formatting/directing/collecting apparatuses, photodetectors and data-processing infrastructures to perform standoff analysis tasks aimed at distant targets. Such tasks include reconnaissance, imaging and range finding as well as terrain mapping/topography, autonomous navigation, fingerprinting of airborne bio-chemical species, wind-speed measurements and climate studies.   

LiDAR and active remote sensing require the integration of a laser source, optical-beam formatting/directing/collecting apparatuses, photodetectors and data-processing infrastructures to perform standoff analysis tasks aimed at distant targets. Such tasks include reconnaissance, imaging and range finding as well as terrain mapping/topography, autonomous navigation, fingerprinting of airborne bio-chemical species, wind-speed measurements and climate studies.   

This course offers an introduction to state-of-the-art LiDAR and active remote sensing technologies. While covering physical foundations, the course adopts a practical and system-oriented approach. Its main goal is to provide students with proper knowledge tools to understand how LiDAR and remote sensing devices are designed, developed and deployed in real applications spanning the scientific, military and industrial realms. Another goal is to familiarize students with the numerous cutting-edge technologies employed in such applications: from pulsed diode and fiber lasers to optical phase arrays, single-photon detectors, image-extraction algorithms etc.

Topics that will be covered include long-range remote sensors deployed in air- and space-based platforms such as deep-space probes, satellites or aircrafts. Such systems must address challenges including the maximization of laser transmitter pulse energy; minimization of size, weight and power consumption; rugged operation in thermo-mechanically harsh environments; and long-term reliability.

LiDAR-based navigation technologies for driverless cars or drones will also be addressed by illustrating how innovative components and optical/electronic/computational solutions are tailored and integrated in these applications to meet the tight size and cost constraints of consumer markets. 

Short Course Benefits:

This course will enable participants to:

  • Summarize key remote sensing approaches: Direct vs. coherent LiDAR, standoff spectroscopy (e.g., differential absorption), Doppler LiDAR, etc.
  • Compare laser technologies (diode, fiber and bulk solid-state lasers) used as optical transmitters based on wavelength, power, mode of operation, cost, etc.
  • List detecting apparatuses (photodiodes, cameras, phototubes, etc.) and discuss how they operate (Linear intensity detection, Geiger-mode/single-photon detection, flash LiDAR,  etc.)
  • Compute basic link budgets and use results to inform the selection of sensor components and designs
Short Course Audience:

The course is aimed mainly at physicists and engineers with a graduate-level background in optics and photonics, pursuing research and development work in active remote sensing. The course is also useful for experienced scientists and engineers in science labs and/or aerospace and automotive industry who are generally interested in state-of-the-art remote sensing applications and technologies.

Instructor Biography:

Fabio Di Teodoro is a Senior Engineering Fellow at Raytheon Technologies, based in El Segundo, California, USA. He has worked on laser based LiDAR and remote sensors for nearly two decades. His area of expertise includes fiber-laser transmitters and airborne LiDAR sensors. He has authored 26 patents and many invited talks and technical publications, is a member of the Technical Committees for the CLEO and Photonics West conferences and has recently served as the Topical Editor on fiber lasers/amplifiers and remote sensing for Optics Letters.