title: High-resolution CW lidar altimetry using repeating intensity-modulated waveforms and Fourier transform reordering.
abstract: An interpolation method is described for range measurements of high precision and altimetry using repeating intensity-modulated continuous wave (IM-CW) lidar waveforms, where the range is determined by means of a cross-correlation between the digital form of the transmitted signal and the digitized return signal collected by the lidar receiver. This method uses reordering of the array elements in the frequency domain to convert a repeating synthetic pulse signal to single highly interpolated pulse. The computation of this processing is marginally greater than the correlation itself, as it only involves reordering of the correlation in the frequency domain, which makes it possible to implement this in a real time application. It is shown through theoretical arguments and flight-testing that this is a viable method for high-speed interpolated range measurements. Standard deviation is 0.75 m over water with only 350 mw of transmitted power at 2600 m.
authors.forename: Joel F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Amin R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Nehrir
authors.forename: F Wallace
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Obland