The Airborne Optical Systems Testbed (AOSTB)
Abstract
Over the last two decades MIT Lincoln Laboratory (MITLL) has pioneered the development of enabling technologies and systems for high-sensitivity, photon-counting, scanning three-dimensional imaging laser radar (3D ladar). Examples include the ALIRT mapping and MACHETE foliage-penetrating ladars. While these and other systems have been transitioned to operation, there is a need to maintain a testbed for novel phenomenology investigation and validation of new sensor architectures. To that end, MITLL has developed an airborne optical system testbed (AOSTB) that is re-configurable, allows for roll-on roll-off capability, and can accommodate multiple sensors on a low-operating-cost Twin Otter aircraft. AOSTB mission areas include wide-area down looking high-resolution imaging, side-looking and up-looking laser ranging and tracking, and sensor fusion with EOIR cameras and hyperspectral payloads. We describe the AOSTB ladar system, present recently collected airborne down and side-look 3D data, and discuss testbed configurations that can support various defense and non-DoD applications.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 31, 2017
- Accession Number
- AD1033558
Entities
People
- Anthony V.d Mangognia
- Brendan R Edwards
- Daniel Dumanis
- Marius A. Albota
- Rajan S Gurjar
Organizations
- MIT Lincoln Laboratory