Three dimensional LADAR imaging system using AR-4000LV laser rangefinder

A new Laser Detection and Ranging or laser radar (LADAR) prototype system has been designed and implemented to be able to capture the 3D LADAR data from the surfaces of various objects. This system is designed to have a high technical specification (sampling rate and resolution) at a minimum cost. This opens up the possibility for further research in the LADAR field, which is currently limited because of the high cost of traditional LADAR systems. This paper describes the technical aspects of the LADAR design which include hardware components and both the mathematical model and the controlling software that are required for reconstructing the resultant LADAR images from the scanning measurements.