Abstract: An imaging LIDAR that can observe varied size scene areas with varied resolution as range to the observed scene changes and as the need for information to be extracted from the LIDAR sensor data evolves. The LIDAR operates at a fully eye-safe spectral wavelength, operated under all conditions of natural illumination and operate in conditions of clear and degraded visibility. The LIDAR is built of materials that can operate in the radiation environments experienced in space. The disclosed LIDAR sensor system has small size, low weight, and consumes minimal power, thus enabling its deployment on platforms that are constrained by size, weight or power limitations.

Abstract: An invention is disclosed for a multi-mode LIDAR sensor system that embodies a high pulse rate fiber laser operating in the SWIR wavelength at 1.5 microns, a long linear array of small SWIR sensitive detectors with very high speed readout electronics, and fully integrated methods and processing elements that perform target detection, classification, and tracking using techniques that emulate how the human visual path processes and interprets imaging data. High resolution three dimensional images are created of wide areas. Image exploitation processing methods detect objects and object activities in real time thus enabling diverse applications such as vehicle navigation, critical infrastructure protection, and public safety monitoring.