3D imaging with large range dynamics and simultaneous accurate speed measurement

In this paper, we describe 3D imaging experiments performed using a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) LIDAR. A detailed study of noise and signal statistics is provided in order to analyze the sensitivity of our FMCW LIDAR, and its capability to image complex scenes over a broad range (up to 3 km) is demonstrated. An image example is also given to illustrate that simultaneous measurement of the speed for each pixel gives additional information that can be used to help segmentation algorithms and target classification. Although 3D imaging using the FMCW system has already been demonstrated, the demonstrated range is generally limited to a few 100 m. In this paper, 3D imaging up to 3 km is achieved while preserving compactness and ruggedness to the various environmental conditions.