| Popis: |
We have elaborated and evaluated a new high-precision method of automated establishment of the position of an object. Unlike the method using laser theodolites, the desire object is defined not by a specular reflector, but a laser beam directed upwards (laser spotlight). In so doing, the photodetectores register the laser radiation scattered by the aerosol component of the atmosphere and propagating perpendicularly to the beam axis (side scattering). The intensities of the side scattering registered by the photodetectors have been estimated in terms of the current concepts as a function of the distance, laser radiation parameters, and the state of the atmosphere. The calculations have shown that despite the relatively small value of the side scattering intensity, it is possible to reliably register light signal from large distances with the use of sufficiently powerful lasers and high-sensitivity photodetectores. To evaluate the proposed method, we developed and tested under real conditions an operative model of a laser-optical system based on a small-size "dry" neodymium laser (peak power of 0.5 MW, pulse repetition rate up to 5 Hz). The model is able to automatically establish the position of an object at a distance of up to 0.5 km to an accuracy no worse than 20 cm in a locality blocked from direct observation. |
