SBIR 95-1 SOLICITATION

PROJECT SUMMARY

Contract Id:

NAS 1 20633

Proposal Number:

03.05-3268

Project Title:

LOW-COST DIODE-LASER SENSOR FOR VELOCITY AND VIBRATION MEASUREMENTS

Technical Abstract:

We have experimentally demonstrated that remote optical radial velocity measurements can be made using off-the-shelf equipment costing about $300 in single quantity, far below the cost of typical LDVs, coherent lidar, and optical vibrometer systems. The sensor consists of a diode, a focusing lens, and a photo-diode. It is completely self-aligning and is easy to modify for multi-point sensing/imaging applications. With a small (6 mm) collection aperture, we have demonstrated high-accuracy measurements to ranges of several meters without the use of cooperative hard-targets, such as retro- reflectors. We propose to investigate these sensors with a several-fold aim. A good analytical model describing the sensor operation is essential in order to optimize performance. The analytical modeling will be supported by experiments to demonstrate significantly improved range and SNR performance. Successful demonstrations are expected to result in low-cost units with potential performance improvements of 10-20 dB. Such optimized sensors, when coupled with extreme compactness and array formats, makes them well suited for a number of NASA applications, including multi-point vibration/mode surveys, flow mapping, and turbulence characterization. _

Potential Commercial Applications:

Compact, rugged, reliable, and low cost velocity sensors are expected to find uses in a large number of areas, including flow measurements/visualization, traffic monitoring, collision avoidance, flow measurements, law enforcement, and vibration sensing. At low enough production cost consumer products can benefit as well. _

Name and Address of Offeror:

LightWorks, LLC
8513 N.95th Street
Longmont, CO 80503
KEY WORDS: Velocimeter, Doppler Velocimeter, LDV, LIDAR, LADAR