The system and method for a digital light processing (DLP) guidance system having a digital light processing (DLP) mirror array at the laser source. A receiver tracks location of the air-borne object using a retro reflector on a pulse-to-pulse basis. The DLP mirror array tracks the air-borne object with a non-scanning beam and immediately provides a correction update to the controller using a pulse repetition interval (PRI) varying code. The system can be packaged in a small format, at a lower cost, and with a higher reliability.

The system and method for a digital light processing (DLP) guidance system having a digital light processing (DLP) mirror array at the laser source. A receiver tracks location of the air-borne object using a retro reflector on a pulse-to-pulse basis. The DLP mirror array tracks the air-borne object with a non-scanning beam and immediately provides a correction update to the controller using a pulse repetition interval (PRI) varying code. The system can be packaged in a small format, at a lower cost, and with a higher reliability.

Upon loss of a valid track of a remotely-sensed command guided vehicle, a delta actuator command including an orthogonal component orthogonal to the straight-line path is generated as a next sample of a time-based alternating signal. The time-based delta actuator command is added to the nominal actuator command, which is held upon loss of valid track, to maneuver the vehicle in first and second orthogonal directions back and forth across the straight-line path to increase an area of vehicle motion relative to the tracker's FOV. This increases the likelihood of recapture of the vehicle given vehicle motion after track is broken. The penalty is a reduction in energy efficiency. In certain embodiments, this is accomplished without modification to guidance system hardware or the existing tracking valid or invalid guidance algorithms.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a dual-mode seeker for a guided missile equipped with seeker/designation handoff capabilities. The dual-mode seeker has Semi-Active Laser (SAL) and Image InfraRed (IIR) modes of operation. SAL-mode operation includes detecting laser pulses reflected by a target designated by a remote Laser Target Designator (LTD) and determining target direction using the detected laser pulses. SAL-mode operation also includes determining the Pulse Repetition Interval (PRI) of the detected laser pulses, and predicting timing of future pulses generated by the LTD. IIR-mode operation includes capturing Short-Wavelength InfraRed (SWIR) images of a scene containing the designated target and determining target location using one or more image features associated with the designated target. After the target direction can be determined using the IIR-mode of operation, an illuminator projects a signal onto the designated target so as to communicate to a remote operator that LTD target designation can be suspended.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a dual-mode seeker for a guided missile equipped with seeker/designation handoff capabilities. The dual-mode seeker has Semi-Active Laser (SAL) and Image InfraRed (IIR) modes of operation. SAL-mode operation includes detecting laser pulses reflected by a target designated by a remote Laser Target Designator (LTD) and determining target direction using the detected laser pulses. SAL-mode operation also includes determining the Pulse Repetition Interval (PRI) of the detected laser pulses, and predicting timing of future pulses generated by the LTD. IIR-mode operation includes capturing Short-Wavelength InfraRed (SWIR) images of a scene containing the designated target and determining target location using one or more image features associated with the designated target. After the target direction can be determined using the IIR-mode of operation, an illuminator projects a signal onto the designated target so as to communicate to a remote operator that LTD target designation can be suspended.

A multimode seeker includes an imager and an image processor. The imager is configured to capture image data received by the multimode seeker during a search period and a track period, wherein the search period includes a plurality of search cycles, and wherein a duration of each of the plurality of search cycles is equal to a predetermined pulse period plus a predetermined drift period. The image processor is configured to detect at least one laser candidate based upon the image data and to track the least one candidate laser during the track period.

A guidance system for remote guidance of a remote platform(s) towards a target destination is disclosed. The guidance system includes a light module including a light source operable for beam to illuminating the remote platform, and a spatial light modulator (SLM) placed in the optical path of the light beam emitted from the light source. The guidance system includes a controller operable for obtaining data indicative of guidance information for navigating the remote platform towards the target destination. The controller operates the SLM to encode the guidance information in the light beam. The guidance information may be encoded in light pattern including at least one of the following: a spatial light pattern formed in a cross-section of the light beam, a temporal light pattern in the light beam, and a spatiotemporal light pattern. The guidance information is encoded in the light beam such that the remote platform can navigate towards the target by detecting at least a cross-sectional region of the light beam, decoding a portion of the guidance information encoded in the detected cross-sectional region and thereby determining guidance instructions for navigating the remote platform(s) towards the target destination.

Methods and apparatus for variable time sampling of optical pulses by a unit cell are disclosed. The methods may include detecting whether an amplitude of an optical pulse incident on one or more photo-detecting elements exceeds a sampling threshold, and while the pulse amplitude remains above the sampling threshold, iteratively sampling the optical pulse at a sampling rate that varies based on changes in the pulse amplitude.

Methods and apparatus for variable time sampling of optical pulses by a unit cell are disclosed. The methods may include detecting whether an amplitude of an optical pulse incident on one or more photo-detecting elements exceeds a sampling threshold, and while the pulse amplitude remains above the sampling threshold, iteratively sampling the optical pulse at a sampling rate that varies based on changes in the pulse amplitude.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a dual-mode seeker for a guided missile equipped with seeker/designation handoff capabilities. The dual-mode seeker has Semi-Active Laser (SAL) and Image InfraRed (IIR) modes of operation. SAL-mode operation includes detecting laser pulses reflected by a target designated by a remote Laser Target Designator (LTD) and determining target direction using the detected laser pulses. SAL-mode operation also includes determining the Pulse Repetition Interval (PRI) of the detected laser pulses, and predicting timing of future pulses generated by the LTD. IIR-mode operation includes capturing Short-Wavelength InfraRed (SWIR) images of a scene containing the designated target and determining target location using one or more image features associated with the designated target. After the target direction can be determined using the IIR-mode of operation, an illuminator projects a signal onto the designated target so as to communicate to a remote operator that LTD target designation can be suspended.