Modulated Laser Line Scanner for Enhanced Underwater Imaging

摘要

Current Laser Line Scanner (LLS) sensor performance is limited in turbid water and in bright solar background conditions. In turbid water, backscattered and small angle forward scattered light reaching the receiver decreases underwater target contrast and resolution. Scattered solar energy reaching the detector also decreases detection sensitivity by increasing receiver noise. Thus, a technique which rejects unwanted, scattered light while retaining image-bearing photons is needed to improve modulation and detection techniques to the LLS. This configuration will enable us to use optical modulation to discriminate against scattered light. A nonscanning mockup of an existing LLS, the Electro-Optic Identification (EOID) sensor, has been developed with off-the-shelf components. An electro-optic modulator will be added to this system to crate a modulated LLS prototype. Laboratory tank experiments will be conducted to evaluate the performance of the modulated LLS as a function of water clarity and solar background levels. The new system will be compared to its unmodulated counterpart in terms of target contrast.