PFI:AIR - TT: Lidar Technologies for Remote Underwater Mapping

PFI:AIR - TT：用于远程水下测绘的激光雷达技术

• 批准号: 1500166
• 负责人: Jeffrey Thayer
• 金额: $ 19.96万
• 依托单位: University of Colorado at Boulder
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2015-05-01 至 2019-04-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1500166&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: PFI; AIR; TT; Lidar; Technologies

This PFI: AIR Technology Translation project is a proof-of-concept project to develop, demonstrate, and evaluate an innovative lidar (laser illuminated detection and ranging) remote sensing technique, called the INtrapulse PHAse Modification Induced by Scattering (INPHAMIS) technique, as a commercially viable product for detailed mapping of shallow marine environments. The INPHAMIS technique is a breakthrough technology in that it provides unprecedented, centimeter resolution to map submerged objects in shallow waters, seamlessly identifies land-to-water transitions, obtains high precision water depth measurements, and provides precise description of bottom surface topography, all from remote distances above the water. Submerged objects are the number one cause of insurance claims in watercraft and the ability to detect them in advance would take care of both a human safety concern and an economic concern. Market research indicates this type of lidar system would contribute to growing markets in the mapping of lakes, shallow glacial melt-ponds, mosquito habitat, coastal erosion, and flood basins, and provide navigation information through inlets and channels that is crucial in these ever evolving environments. The end commercial goal is to develop a mobile lidar bathymetric unit to be used for local surveys either by boat, handheld, or possibly on dirigibles or unmanned aerial systems.The INPHAMIS technique has the following unique features: 1-cm resolution in resolving objects in shallow waters, simple lidar components, noninvasive/non-contact, remote sensing technique based on a differential measurement, continuous observing over land-water transitions, and scalability to support several types of observing platforms. INPHAMIS is a disruptive technology in that it achieves high resolution subsurface mapping in water while reducing complexity and cost. Other remote sensing techniques are limited to waters deeper than a meter or more, leaving a large portion of near-shore waters unmapped. Existing lidar bathymetry systems are all quite similar in terms of intended use and capabilities and all involve large, expensive airborne systems. The INPHAMIS technique's unique features provide advantages in performance, costs, mass, power, volume, and adaptability that opens a new market in shallow-water water bathymetry by enabling the near-future development of a hand-held system for underwater mapping and subsurface target identification.This project addresses the following technology gaps as it translates from research discovery toward commercial application: 1) interactions of laser light with different surface water conditions, submerged objects, and bottom surface types; 2) performance factors and definition of system and measurement specifications; 3) trade analysis of critical lidar components. A lab demonstrator of the technique will be advanced to evaluate laser light interactions with water bodies and objects in real environmental shallow-water conditions. This will also provide data on establishing performance factors and component testing. A faculty member, graduate student, and an undergraduate student will be involved providing a unique learning environment in entrepreneurship and technology translation, with support from industry partner, ASTRA LLC, and their staff and engineers.The project engages industry partner, ASTRA LLC, which will contribute engineering experience and perform commercialization and marketing studies to assess market space, competitive environment, explore licensing opportunities and further commercialization of the technology. This strong partnership is poised to move this technology translation effort from research discovery toward commercial reality.

该 PFI：AIR 技术翻译项目是一个概念验证项目，旨在开发、演示和评估创新型激光雷达（激光照明探测和测距）遥感技术，称为散射诱导的 INtrapulse PHAse 修改 (INPHAMIS) 技术，一种商业上可行的产品，用于详细绘制浅海环境图。 INPHAMIS 技术是一项突破性技术，它提供了前所未有的厘米级分辨率来绘制浅水中水下物体的地图，无缝识别陆地到水的过渡，获得高精度水深测量，并提供底部表面地形的精确描述，所有这些都来自水面以上的遥远距离。水下物体是船舶保险索赔的首要原因，提前检测到水下物体的能力将解决人类安全问题和经济问题。市场研究表明，这种类型的激光雷达系统将有助于湖泊、浅冰川融化池、蚊子栖息地、海岸侵蚀和洪泛区测绘市场的不断增长，并通过入口和渠道提供导航信息，这对于这些不断发展的过程至关重要环境。 最终的商业目标是开发一种移动激光雷达测深装置，用于通过船、手持式或可能在飞船或无人机系统上进行本地测量。INPHAMIS 技术具有以下独特功能： 1 厘米分辨率，可解析水中的物体浅水区、简单的激光雷达组件、基于差分测量的非侵入/非接触式遥感技术、对陆地-水转变的连续观测以及支持多种类型观测平台的可扩展性。 INPHAMIS 是一项颠覆性技术，它可以实现水中高分辨率的地下测绘，同时降低复杂性和成本。其他遥感技术仅限于深度超过一米或更深的水域，导致大部分近岸水域未绘制地图。现有的激光雷达测深系统在预期用途和功能方面都非常相似，并且都涉及大型、昂贵的机载系统。 INPHAMIS技术的独特功能在性能、成本、质量、功率、体积和适应性方面提供了优势，通过在不久的将来开发用于水下测绘和地下目标的手持式系统，打开了浅水水深测量的新市场该项目在从研究发现转向商业应用的过程中解决了以下技术差距：1）激光与不同地表水条件、水下物体和底部表面类型的相互作用； 2）性能因素以及系统和测量规范的定义； 3) 关键激光雷达部件的贸易分析。该技术的实验室演示器将被改进，以评估激光在真实环境浅水条件下与水体和物体的相互作用。这还将提供有关建立性能因素和组件测试的数据。在行业合作伙伴 ASTRA LLC 及其员工和工程师的支持下，一名教职员工、研究生和一名本科生将参与提供创业和技术翻译方面的独特学习环境。该项目与行业合作伙伴 ASTRA LLC 合作，将贡献工程经验并进行商业化和营销研究，以评估市场空间、竞争环境、探索许可机会和技术的进一步商业化。这种强有力的合作伙伴关系有望将这项技术转化工作从研究发现转向商业现实。