Multi-Point Trilateration: A Novel Approach For Distributed Metrology

摘要

In this paper, a novel approach to distributed optical meterology is described and demonstrated that is based on optical trilateration. Trilateration is a method to determine the absolute 3D location of a target by measuring the distance to that target from four to five time-of-flight systems. Because the transceiver locations are known, the target coordinates are estimated from the intersection of the resulting spheres. The best known example of trilateration in use today is the global positioning system (GPS). By combining trilateration techniques with the high precision, distributed measurement capabilities of an FMCW chirped laser radar system, distributed metrology can be performed on an unprecedented amount of targets using only a handful of transceivers. Scaling of hundreds to thousands of targets per transceiver is possible.