Adaptive Sensing and Control for Flexible Transmission in a Turbulent Medium. Adaptive Laser Beam Control Using Return Photon Statistics

Abstract : This Final Report details efforts under a Phase I grant directed at taking an existing laser system pointing tool developed by Nukove and determining the feasibility of converting it into a real-time tool for eventual field work. Feasibility has been shown through the development of RHINO (Real-time Histogram Interpretation of Numerical Observations). RHINO shows that eventual field data may be streamed in and analyzed. Pointing estimates are available after 25 shots. As a prime example of the utility and feasibility, estimates of boresight will be available to adaptively control pointing with a goal of boresight reduction via feedback. Parallel to the software and modeling, New Mexico State University developed a laboratory testbed to emulate ground-to-space laser pointing systems. Data from the testbed was analyzed with RHINO and estimates concurred with the testbed inputs extremely well. The efforts resulted in three conference presentations and associated papers.