Performance Analysis of Next-Generation LADAR for Manufacturing, Construction, and Mobility

Abstract

The NIST Construction Metrology and Automation Group (CMAG), in cooperation with the NIST Intelligent Systems Division (ISD), is developing performance metrics and researching issues related to the design and development of a Next-Generation LADAR (laser radar) sensor that will enable general automation in structured and unstructured environments. This report reviews the basic physics and implementation of various LADAR technologies, describes the problems associated with available "offthe -shelf" LADAR systems, summarizes world-wide state-of-the-art research, and elaborates on general trends in advanced LADAR sensor research and their likely impact on manufacturing, autonomous vehicle mobility and on construction automation. KEYWORDS: AM-CW; angular resolution; beam steering; digital mirror devices; field-of-view (FOV); FM-CW; focal plane array (FPA); laser radar (LADAR); phase-based time-of-flight; pulse time-of-flight; range accuracy; range resolution; scanning. Abstract....................................................................................................................