Abstract

We describe several scanning, single photon sensitive, 3D imaging lidars that, on a single overflight, can provide contiguous, decimeter resolution maps at AGLs between 1 and 9 km and at speeds in excess of 200 knots. With 100 beamlets and laser fire rates up to 32 kHz, we have interrogated up to 3.2 million ground pixels per second, some of which record multiple returns per pulse from volumetric scatterers such as tree canopies. High range resolution has been achieved through the use of subnanosecond laser pulsewidths and detector rise times. The systems have been deployed on a wide variety of aircraft to demonstrate their utility in multiple applications including large scale surveying and surveillance, bathymetry, forestry, etc.

© 2015 Optical Society of America