Abstract: In one general aspect, an apparatus configured to monitor a distant object can include at least one source of electromagnetic radiation configured to produce a plurality of beams of electromagnetic radiation, and an optical system configured to project each of the plurality of beams of the electromagnetic radiation onto the distant target object, the optical system including a zoom lens having a variable focal length and a controller configured to control the variable focal length of the zoom lens.

Abstract: In one general aspect, an apparatus can include a source of electromagnetic radiation; a multicore fiber, the multicore fiber including a plurality of fiber cores, each of the plurality of fiber cores being configured to (i) transmit a respective portion of the electromagnetic radiation from an ingress of that fiber core to an egress of that fiber core and (ii) produce a respective beam of a plurality of beams of the electromagnetic radiation emanating from the egress of that fiber core; a first optical system configured to couple the electromagnetic radiation from the source into each of the plurality of fiber cores; and a second optical system configured to project each of the plurality of beams of the electromagnetic radiation onto a distant target object.

Abstract: In one general aspect, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium can be configured to store instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform a process. The process can include producing a segment of a laser signal where the segment of the laser signal has a duration, and producing a first reference signal based on the laser signal. The process can include calculating a first phase deviation corresponding with a first portion of the duration based on the first reference signal, and producing a second reference signal based on the laser signal. The process can include calculating a second phase deviation corresponding with a second portion of the duration based on the second reference signal, and calculating a phase deviation of the segment of the laser signal based on a combination of the first phase deviation and the second phase deviation.

Abstract: Techniques of tracking an object's motion involve using a LIDAR system that is configured to track an object over a period of time in which the object is moving using a single scanning motion. Using the LIDAR system, tracking of the object can be performed while eliminating visible imaging hardware (e.g., video camera hardware). Accordingly, the LIDAR system can be configured to operate in total darkness, into the sun, etc. The LIDAR system can be less susceptible to motion of the object than conventional systems. Accordingly, the motion of the object 110 be determined in some implementations solely from LIDAR measurements, without, for example, video.

Abstract: Techniques of tracking an object involve a Light Detection And Ranging (LIDAR) system. The LIDAR system can be configured to track an object over a period of time, during which the object is moving. Using the LIDAR system tracking of the object can be performed while eliminating illumination hardware (e.g., video camera hardware). Accordingly, the LIDAR system can be configured to operate in total darkness, into the sun, etc. The LIDAR system can be less susceptible to motion of the object than conventional systems. Accordingly, the full rigid-body motion of the object can be determined in some implementations solely from LIDAR measurements, without, for example, video.

Abstract: A laser microphone can include a detection system including plurality of laser subsystems. The detection system can be configured to produce emitted electromagnetic radiation based on a frequency pattern and receive reflected electromagnetic radiation reflected from an object. The detection system can be configured to define combined frequency data based on a frequency of the emitted, electromagnetic radiation and a frequency of the reflected electromagnetic radiation. The detection system can be configured to define a set of spectral bins in a frequency domain based on the combined frequency data, modify the combined frequency data based on a datapoint obtained from a subset of the set of spectral bins, and define at least one of a range or a velocity based on the combined frequency data. The laser microphone can include an audio processor configured to define an audio signal based on the at least one of the range or velocity.

Abstract: In one general aspect, a system for determining a motion of an object includes a laser system configured to generate range and velocity measurements of a plurality of points on the object and a processor. The processor is configured to determine, from the range and velocity measurements of the plurality of points on the object, a rotation of the object. In some aspects, the processor is also configured to determine, from the range and velocity measurements of the plurality of points on the object and the rotation of the object, a distance moved by the object between a first time and a second time.

Abstract: Techniques of tracking an object involve a Light Detection And Ranging (LIDAR) system. The LIDAR system can be configured to track an object over a period of time, during which the object is moving. Using the LIDAR system tracking of the object can be performed while eliminating illumination hardware (e.g., video camera hardware). Accordingly, the LIDAR system can be configured to operate in total darkness, into the sun, etc. The LIDAR system can be less susceptible to motion of the object than conventional systems. Accordingly, the full rigid-body motion of the object can be determined in some implementations solely from LIDAR measurements, without, for example, video.

Abstract: Techniques of tracking an object's motion involve using a LIDAR system that is configured to track an object over a period of time in which the object is moving using a single scanning motion. Using the LIDAR system, tracking of the object can be performed while eliminating visible imaging hardware (e.g., video camera hardware). Accordingly, the LIDAR system can be configured to operate in total darkness, into the sun, etc. The LIDAR system can be less susceptible to motion of the object than conventional systems. Accordingly, the motion of the object 110 be determined in some implementations solely from LIDAR measurements, without, for example, video.

Abstract: A tracking system uses multiple beams arranged in a pattern, or a signal-of-interest (SOI) array, such that the beams do not move appreciably relative to the target during data gathering. For example, a specified pattern of beams is arranged along portions of a rectangular grid and is projected onto a region of an object (e.g., a cheek of a human face). When the object moves, the tracking system receives an indication that the object has moved and obtains the object velocity along the beam direction. From this component of the velocity, the velocity in a lateral direction (i.e., orthogonal to the beam direction) is deduced. The tracking system then adjusts the pattern of beams to lock on the region of the object, based on this lateral velocity. This LIDAR-only tracking system is then a robust tracking system that in which there is little to no latency that video generates.

Abstract: Techniques of deriving audio signals using frequency modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) LIDAR use an acceleration-based algorithm in which an audio signal is based on a difference in velocity between two up-chirps or two-down-chirps. Such an acceleration-based algorithm takes less computation, results in fast processing, boosts the high frequency component of the audio signals which the velocity-based algorithm lacks, and improves the subjective intelligibility. For example, in the acceleration-based algorithm, the DC components may be safely ignored in many cases. In such cases, the system does not require a band-pass filter as in the conventional systems, thus reducing computational burden. Moreover, the acceleration-based algorithm emphasizes high frequencies that form a more realistic depiction of human speech.

Abstract: A technique of monitoring and/or tracking an object includes scanning a set of beams of electromagnetic radiation in lines over the object; obtaining data indicating a velocity of the object and position of the object out of the plane as the beam of electromagnetic radiation is scanned over the object; and performing a correction operation to produce a correction to the absolute position in the plane of the object at a later time after an initial time, the correction being based on the obtained data.

Abstract: In one general aspect, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed cause one or more processors to perform a process. The process can include producing emitted electromagnetic radiation based on a frequency pattern and receiving reflected electromagnetic radiation reflected from an object. The process can include defining combined frequency data based on a frequency of the emitted electromagnetic radiation and a frequency of the reflected electromagnetic radiation. The process can also include defining a set of spectral bins, based on a Fourier transform, in a frequency domain based on the combined frequency data, and can include identifying a subset of the set of spectral bins.

Abstract: In one general aspect, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium can be configured to store instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform a process. The process can include producing a segment of a laser signal where the segment of the laser signal has a duration, and producing a first reference signal based on the laser signal. The process can include calculating a first phase deviation corresponding with a first portion of the duration based on the first reference signal, and producing a second reference signal based on the laser signal. The process can include calculating a second phase deviation corresponding with a second portion of the duration based on the second reference signal, and calculating a phase deviation of the segment of the laser signal based on a combination of the first phase deviation and the second phase deviation.

Abstract: In one general aspect, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium can be configured to store instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform a process. The process can include producing a segment of a laser signal where the segment of the laser signal has a duration, and producing a first reference signal based on the laser signal. The process can include calculating a first phase deviation corresponding with a first portion of the duration based on the first reference signal, and producing a second reference signal based on the laser signal. The process can include calculating a second phase deviation corresponding with a second portion of the duration based on the second reference signal, and calculating a phase deviation of the segment of the laser signal based on a combination of the first phase deviation and the second phase deviation.

Abstract: In one general aspect, a system for determining a motion of an object includes a laser system configured to generate range and velocity measurements of a plurality of points on the object and a processor. The processor is configured to determine, from the range and velocity measurements of the plurality of points on the object, a rotation of the object. In some aspects, the processor is also configured to determine, from the range and velocity measurements of the plurality of points on the object and the rotation of the object, a distance moved by the object between a first time and a second time.

Abstract: In one general aspect, a system for determining a motion of an object includes a laser system configured to generate range and velocity measurements of a plurality of points on the object and a processor. The processor is configured to determine, from the range and velocity measurements of the plurality of points on the object, a rotation of the object. In some aspects, the processor is also configured to determine, from the range and velocity measurements of the plurality of points on the object and the rotation of the object, a distance moved by the object between a first time and a second time.

Abstract: A laser microphone can include a detection system including plurality of laser subsystems. The detection system can be configured to produce emitted electromagnetic radiation based on a frequency pattern and receive reflected electromagnetic radiation reflected from an object. The detection system can be configured to define combined frequency data based on a frequency of the emitted, electromagnetic radiation and a frequency of the reflected electromagnetic radiation. The detection system can be configured to define a set of spectral bins in a frequency domain based on the combined frequency data, modify the combined frequency data based on a datapoint obtained from a subset of the set of spectral bins, and define at least one of a range or a velocity based on the combined frequency data. The laser microphone can include an audio processor configured to define an audio signal based on the at least one of the range or velocity.

Abstract: In one general aspect, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed cause one or more processors to perform a process. The process can include producing emitted electromagnetic radiation based on a frequency pattern and receiving reflected electromagnetic radiation reflected from an object. The process can include defining combined frequency data based on a frequency of the emitted electromagnetic radiation and a frequency of the reflected electromagnetic radiation. The process can also include defining a set of spectral bins, based on a Fourier transform, in a frequency domain based on the combined frequency data, and can include identifying a subset of the set of spectral bins.

Abstract: A laser microphone can include a detection system including plurality of laser subsystems. The detection system can be configured to produce emitted electromagnetic radiation based on a frequency pattern and receive reflected electromagnetic radiation reflected from an object. The detection system can be configured to define combined frequency data based on a frequency of the emitted, electromagnetic radiation and a frequency of the reflected electromagnetic radiation. The detection system can be configured to define a set of spectral bins in a frequency domain based on the combined frequency data, modify the combined frequency data based on a datapoint obtained from a subset of the set of spectral bins, and define at least one of a range or a velocity based on the combined frequency data. The laser microphone can include an audio processor configured to define an audio signal based on the at least one of the range or velocity.