Optical correlators are just now finding their way out of a laboratory environment and are being considered for practical systems. Space application for optical correlators have been discussed and studied for several years; however, there has been no funded program to move beyond paper for space considerations. One of the first supporting efforts to evaluate fieldable optical correlators is being funded by DARPA under their Transfer of Optical Processing to Systems (TOPS) program. One of the TOPS projects is to build an optical correlator that will perform target recognition while being flown in a helicopter. Some of the packaging consideration for the helicopter environment will carry over to the space applications environment. This paper presents a brief description of optical correlators and their applications and potential value to space operations. Critical parts and components of the correlator are discussed in reference to the space environment and qualification for space systems.
Optical-correlator system design considerations for space applications
Photonics for Space Environments ; 1993 ; Orlando,FL,United States
Proc. SPIE ; 1953
1993-09-15
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
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