Laser Polarimeter Classifies Remote Material

February 1, 2013

Advanced Optical Technologies, Inc. (AOT) has been awarded a Phase 2 SBIR contract to develop a next-generation laser polarimeter for the US Army RDECOM CERDEC Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate (NVESD), traditionally known as the US Army Night-Vision Labs. The polarimeter will implement AOT’s polarization-components techniques (PCT), which apply machine-learning algorithms to polarimeter data for remote material classification.

Compared to passive polarimeters, which have already been fielded, active laser polarimeters provide additional information and enhanced capabilities for automated target recognition, real-time structural-health monitoring, thin-film, textile, polymer process monitoring, and debris mapping and assessment. AOT expects to have a prototype laser polarimeter ready for NVESD field tests by mid-2014.