High temporal resolution sensing of atmospheric turbulence refractive index structure parameter (C_n^2) based on embedded edge AI-processing of scintillation images

A deep machine learning-based electro-optics system (TurbNet sensor) was developed to measure atmospheric turbulence refractive index structure parameter (C²_n) at a high temporal resolution by processing short-exposure intensity scintillation patterns. The TurbNet sensor was composed of a remotely located LED beacon, an optical receiver telescope with a CCD camera for capturing short exposure pupil-plane intensity scintillation patterns, and a Jetson Xavier Nx embedded AIcomputing platform to implement the deep neural network (DNN)-based processing of LED beam scintillation images. Performance of the TurbNet sensor was evaluated over a 7 km atmospheric propagation path.