Time-of-flight calibration of an MCT-APD sensor for a flash imaging LiDAR system

• Main Authors: Parahyba, Victor E. S, de Borniol, Eric, Perrier, Regis, Nowicki-Bringuier, Yoanna-Reine R, Ciapponi, Alessandra, Chanussot, Jocelyn
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: SPIE 12.07.2019
• ISBN: 1510630775; 9781510630772
• ISSN: 0277-786X
• DOI: 10.1117/12.2536011

Flash Imaging LiDARs (Light Detection and Ranging) are active systems that resolves depth in a scene by time-of-flight measurements and are being seen as a competitive technological alternative that presents great advantages in the space scenario. The system records full 3D-images with a single laser pulse, thus eliminating the need for a scanning device. A first step to improve the overall quality of the measurements is the calibration of the camera. There is a vast literature and well-stablished techniques concerning radiometric calibration (2D information). However, for time-of-flight (3D information) the subject remains open to improvement and dependent upon the specific characteristics of the detector. In this article we propose a calibration scheme for CEA-LETI’s LiDAR that combines both intensity, range accuracy and range precision calibration and presents the first enhanced results based on data acquired under laboratory conditions. This project is a partnership between ESA and CEA-LETI aiming the design of a LiDAR system based on a custom MCTAPD FPA (Avalanche PhotoDiode Focal Plane Array) detector developed by CEA-LETI and the formulation of a set of imaging processing algorithms. The target is to demonstrate the potential of such detector technology and to evaluate the performances of the full system chain in the frame of the targeted application. In the future, a validation campaign on a real terrain, at ESA’s campsite, will be performed to demonstrate the system in a close-to-real configuration.