Lookdown and loitering ladar system

Abstract

A LADAR system and with lookdown and loitering capabilities is disclosed. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a LADAR sensor and a gimbal. The LADAR sensor is mounted to the gimbal, which is capable of scanning in azimuth sufficient to provide a look down and loitering capability. In another aspect, a method includes flying an airborne vehicle through an environment; and scanning a LADAR signal forward and to at least one side into a field of regard.

1 . An apparatus, comprising 
 a LADAR sensor; and    a gimbal to which the LADAR sensor is mounted, the gimbal being capable of scanning in azimuth sufficient to provide a look down and loitering capability.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gimbaled transceiver is incapable of scanning in azimuth through at least 180°.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the gimbaled transceiver is capable of scanning through at least ±90° off a boresight.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gimbaled transceiver is capable of transmitting at least 90° off a boresight.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a platform defining a chamber in which the LADAR sensor and gimbal are housed; and    a window in the platform closing the chamber.    
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the platform is a vehicle.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the vehicle is an airborne vehicle.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the airborne vehicle is a flying submunition, a guided weapon system, a reconnaissance drone, or a manned aircraft.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the window is segmented.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  9 , wherein the segments comprise flat facets.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the segments are hemispherical.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein a fuselage of the platform mating with the window is shaped.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the window is hyperspherical.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a laser designator mounted on-gimbal with the LADAR sensor.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the laser designator and the LADAR sensor are co-aligned.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the laser designator is pointed independently of the gimbal pointing direction.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the laser designator receives pointing and targeting information from the LADAR sensor.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the LADAR sensor is capable of laser designating.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an off-gimbal LADAR laser; and    a large mode area fiber over which the beam generated by the LADAR laser is transmitted to the LADAR sensor.    
     
     
         20 . A wide-angle LADAR system, comprising: 
 a platform defining a chamber;    a faceted window closing the chamber; and    a gimbaled LADAR sensor housed in the closed chamber capable of scanning in azimuth substantially through 180° and housed in the chamber to scan through the faceted window.    
     
     
         21 . The LADAR system of  claim 20 , wherein the platform is a vehicle.  
     
     
         22 . The LADAR system of  claim 21 , wherein the vehicle is an airborne vehicle.  
     
     
         23 . The LADAR system of  claim 20 , wherein the window is segmented.  
     
     
         24 . The LADAR system of  23 , wherein the segments comprise flat facets.  
     
     
         25 . The LADAR system of  claim 20 , further comprising a laser designator mounted on-gimbal with the LADAR sensor.  
     
     
         26 . The LADAR system of  claim 20 , wherein the LADAR sensor is capable of laser designating.  
     
     
         27 . The LADAR system of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 an off-gimbal LADAR laser; and    a large mode area fiber over which the beam generated by the LADAR laser is transmitted to the LADAR sensor.    
     
     
         28 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 an airborne vehicle defining a chamber in the forward end thereof, a faceted window closing the chamber;    a gimbaled LADAR sensor housed in the closed chamber capable of scanning in azimuth substantially through 180° and housed in the chamber to scan through the faceted window; and    a laser designator mounted on-gimbal with the LADAR sensor.    
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the gimbaled transceiver is incapable of scanning in azimuth through at least 180°.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the airborne vehicle is a flying submunition, a guided weapon system, a reconnaissance drone, or a manned aircraft.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the laser designator and the LADAR sensor are co-aligned.  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the laser designator is pointed independently of the gimbal pointing direction.  
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the laser designator receives pointing and targeting information from the LADAR sensor.  
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising: 
 an off-gimbal LADAR laser; and    a large mode area fiber over which the beam generated by the LADAR laser is transmitted to the LADAR sensor.    
     
     
         35 . A method, comprising: 
 flying an airborne vehicle through an environment; and    scanning a LADAR signal forward and to at least one side into a field of regard.    
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein flying the airborne vehicle includes flying a flying submunition, a guided weapon system, a reconnaissance drone, or a manned aircraft.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein scanning the LADAR signal includes scanning in azimuth through 180°.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein scanning in azimuth through 180° includes scanning through ±90° off a boresight.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein scanning the LADAR signal includes transmitting 90° off a boresight.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising: 
 loitering over an area within the field of regard; and    scanning the LADAR signal into the area while loitering.    
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising banking the airborne vehicle while loitering.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising tracking a target while loitering.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising tracking a target while loitering.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising designating a target from aboard the airborne vehicle.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising designating a target from aboard the airborne vehicle.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45  wherein the designation employs LADAR information extracted aboard the airborne vehicle.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the designation is performed by the LADAR transmitter.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the designation is performed by a laser designator separate from the LADAR transmitter.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , where the designation is performed on-gimbal.