Random pulse burst range-resolved doppler laser radar

An laser radar system employing transmitted random and pseudo random optical pulse trains and signal processing that provides unambiguous range and Doppler velocity data. The system comprises a diode-pumped fiber laser local oscillator and an optical random pulse signal generator comprising a mode-locked fiber laser source for generating and transmitted randomly spaced optical pulses. A heterodyne output pulse monitor processes the local oscillator signals and samples the transmitted optical pulses. A heterodyne receiver detector processes the local oscillator signals and received optical pulses reflected from a target. An acoustic charge transport delay line provides a selectable signal delay for the signal provided by the heterodyne optical pulse monitor, and a mixer mixes signals provided by the heterodyne receiver detector and delay line and provides correlation output signals. A Doppler analyzer processes the correlation output signals from the mixer to provide frequency spectrum for each range bin, and an executive processor processes the frequency spectra from the Doppler analyzer to provide a range-resolved Doppler image on the display. The range-resolved Doppler output signals provided by the executive processor allow identification of a wideband weather signature and a narrow band target signature that are displayed on the display. The system employs a single waveform to provide the needed measurements, and eliminates trade-offs between range and velocity ambiguities. The present invention may be employed in vehicular collision avoidance radars and laser sensors, and in adaptive cruise control, robotic vision, and metrology-gauging applications.