Tracking and Aiming System Based on Laser Dual-Pulse Interval Modulation

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Authors: S. N. Li, Huihui Pan, Min Tao
Cited by: 0
References: 49

Abstract

Target tracking technology is widely applied in fields such as weapon guidance. This paper proposes a target tracking and aiming method that integrates optical communication with beam steering. Unlike traditional schemes relying on the energy distribution of laser spots for angle measurement, this method encodes target position information into pulse sequences using Dual-Pulse Interval Modulation (DPIM). The position information is recovered at the tracking end via interval demodulation of the target's reflected echo to achieve closed-loop pointing control. This time-domain decision mechanism is inherently insensitive to multipath-induced amplitude fluctuations and energy dispersion, provided pulses are detectable. The system utilizes a two-axis mechanical galvanometer and a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) to implement DPIM laser pointing control, as well as modulation and demodulation. Experimental results demonstrate that, in indoor prototype tracking tests, the pointing and tracking Mean Absolute Error (MAE) is$< 0.028^\circ$. Comparative experiments further verify the robustness of the method under speckle and energy dispersion conditions. Collectively, these results demonstrate a feasible architecture for the integration of laser communication and laser tracking.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Optical Wireless Communication Technologies Advanced Optical Sensing Technologies Advanced Measurement and Detection Methods

Publication details

Journal / source
IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems
Volume
62
Pages
7070–7084
Publication date
1 January 2026
Language
EN