Target induced pointing noise in laser trackers
Abstract
The reported investigation is concerned with the quantification of the degradation of the open loop track signals by target-induced perturbations. The results were obtained with the aid of a computer simulation that determined the magnitude of this tracking error for the conditions encountered in laser trackers. The computer program employed has the capability of synthesizing computer images of targets of highly complex geometry and radiance distributions. Attention is given to two important parameters for the characterization of the pointing error, an empirical equation for the variance of the total pointing error, the application of the equation, and the evaluation of the sensitivity of the pointing error to the introduction of strong scattering centers in the target radiance profile.
- Publication:
-
Applied Optics
- Pub Date:
- October 1977
- DOI:
- 10.1364/AO.16.002623
- Bibcode:
- 1977ApOpt..16.2623P
- Keywords:
-
- Laser Ranger/Tracker;
- Optical Radar;
- Radar Targets;
- Signal Distortion;
- Computerized Simulation;
- Position Errors;
- Radar Scattering;
- Root-Mean-Square Errors;
- Signal Analysis;
- Communications and Radar;
- TRACKERS