Multiple Target Laser Designator (MTLD)

Abstract : Physical Optics Corporation (POC) is developing a Multiple Target Laser Designator (MTLD) based on a scanning element and a lightweight angular multiplexed holographic optical element (HOE) antenna. It has a wide field of view (FOV) with only a few detectors, and requires no additional hardware for beam pointing and tracking. In the sixth quarter of the MTLD project, we have optimized the MTLD algorithm for target tracking and position estimation (Task 6). We have also optimized holographic antenna fabrication for effective MTLD system integration (Tasks 3 and 7 and Milestone 3). For the optimal system integration and a quick demonstration of the real-time multitargets laser designation with different codes, we have further investigated other more mature scanner technologies, and selected a COTS high-speed and high-precision miniature x-y galvo scanner for optimization of multitarget designation algorithm and integration into a MTLD prototype (Tasks 6 and 7). We have been fabricating and testing the preliminary MTLD prototype to demonstrate multitarget designation with coded laser pulses (Tasks 7 and 8). We have continued to explore the commercial potential of MTLD (Task 9).