Effect of Lidar Receiver Field of View on UAV Detection

Abstract

Researchers have shown that single-photon light detection and ranging (lidar) is highly sensitive and has a high temporal resolution. Due to the excellent beam directivity of lidar, most applications focus on ranging and imaging. Here, we present a lidar detection system for night environments. Different from MEMS, we choose a large divergence rather than scanning to detect unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Collection and detection are achieved through the use of high-efficiency optical devices. With time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC), we performed subsequent drone search work at centimeter resolution. We believe that we have developed a new technique for detecting UAVs. We show how the field of view influences the detection process. For some key areas of air defense, it is extremely necessary to find UAVs quickly and in a timely manner. In short, the results represent an important step toward practical, low-power drone detection using lidar.