Novel low-cost camera-based continuous wave laser detection

摘要

A novel, low-cost, camera-based method of detecting ContinuousWave (CW) lasers has been developed at DSTL.The detector uses a simple optical modification to a standard colour camera combined with image processingtechniques to distinguish lasers from other illumination sources, as well as measuring the wavelength, directionand irradiance of the laser light. Such a detector has applications in collecting information on aircraft laserdazzle incidents: providing the evidence required to inform on aircrew laser exposure events and to assess ifengagements are eye safe. A prototype has been developed using entirely Commercially available Off-The-Shelf(COTS) components, costing ≈￡600, and assessed in the laboratory conditions, with the capability of measuringlaser wavelengths to ±5nm and irradiances to ±10%. A realistic hand-held laser engagement scenario, using arange of relevant wavelengths and irradiances, was simulated during the Moonraker trial where the prototype wascapable of measuring laser wavelengths to an accuracy of ±10nm, and peak irradiances to ±25%. Comparisonswere made with a COTS laser detector, and showed an equivalent performance. This technology offers a lowcost approach to CW laser detection, which is capable of extracting a range of parameters, whilst maintaining arelatively wide Field of View (FOV) and angular resolution.