Laser Radar: Basic Principles and Hands-On Operation - IAP 2015

Lincoln Laboratory Instructors:

Kevin Holman, Jane Luu, Dale Fried, Samuel Wong, Bryce Remesch, Emily Peterson

MIT Instructors:

 Professor Jeff Shapiro
January 2015, Beaver Works  

Course Description:

  • 4 day lecture/lab-based course
  • This course covered fundamentals of laser radar systems, principles of operation and their applications
  • The course included 3D imaging ladar systems and coherent ladar systems
  • Hands-On component
    • Students worked in 5-person groups on lab exercises
    • State-of-the-art optical and electronics equipment used in exercises
    • Equipment funded by donation secured by Professor Shapiro
    • Potential to include some of this curriculum into existing student optics lab

Syllabus:

  
  • Day 1 - Lectures
    • Laser Radar Fundamentals
    • Airborne 3D Ladar
    • Laser Safety
  • Day 2 - 3D Imaging Lab
    • Pulsed Lab Description
    • Pulsed Ranging
    • Scanned 3D Imaging
  • Day 3 - Lectures
    • Principles of Coherent Ladar
    • Laser Speckle
    • Pulse Compression Techniques
  • Day 4 - Coherent Ladar Lab
    • Coherent Lab Description
    • Range/Doppler Imaging
    • Laser Vibrometer Microphone

 

Feedback
As was the case in 2014, the class really enjoyed the activity, expecially the labs, and encouraged us to run this activity next IAP, so that other students could benefit