Confocal Bistatic LIDAR in scattering media

Abstract

Scattering effects in underwater environments significantly challenge optical perception. This paper introduces a foveating confocal bistatic LiDAR system, uniquely capable of adaptive targeting with its MEMS-modulated transmitter and receiver in turbid underwater conditions. By dynamically adjusting its receiver instantaneous field of view to areas of interest, it effectively increases depth sampling in complex and challenging underwater environments. Applying bistatic principles, separating transmitter and receiver, we allow robustness to scattering media effects. We demonstrate LIDAR results in an underwater laboratory tank setting.