Development and implementation of an FPGA-based control system for a passive, distributed aperture millimeter-wave imaging system

Abstract

Degraded visual environments, particularly those caused by brownout, pose one of the most prominent threats to rotary-wing aircraft operating in areas with unimproved landing zones. Novel imaging modalities, such as a passive millimeter-wave sensor recently developed by Phase Sensitive Innovations, are emerging to mitigate this threat. Novel imaging systems such as these likewise require novel control methodologies tailored closely to their needs. In conjunction with Phase Sensitive Innovations, EM Photonics, and the University of Delaware, the focus of my research has been the development and implementation such a control system with the ability to simultaneously control the phases of many optical channels in real time.