Journal Article

Electro-Optical Sensors for Atmospheric Turbulence Strength Characterization with Embedded Edge AI Processing of Scintillation Patterns

Polnau, Ernst, Vorontsov, Mikhail A., Hettiarachchi, Don L. N.

2022

Overview

This study introduces electro-optical (EO) sensors (TurbNet sensors) that utilize a remote laser beacon (either coherent or incoherent) and an optical receiver with CCD camera and embedded edge AI computer (Jetson Xavier Nx) for in situ evaluation of the path-averaged atmospheric turbulence refractive index structure parameter Cn2 at a high temporal rate. Evaluation of Cn2 values was performed using deep neural network (DNN)-based real-time processing of short-exposure laser-beacon light intensity scintillation patterns (images) captured by a TurbNet sensor optical receiver. Several pre-trained DNN models were loaded onto the AI computer and used for TurbNet sensor performance evaluation in a set of atmospheric propagation inference trials under diverse turbulence and meteorological conditions. DNN model training, validation, and testing were performed using datasets comprised of a large number of instances of scintillation frames and corresponding reference (“true”) Cn2 values that were measured side-by-side with a commercial scintillometer (BLS 2000). Generation of datasets and inference trials was performed at the University of Dayton’s (UD) 7-km atmospheric propagation test range. The results demonstrated a 70–90% correlation between Cn2 values obtained with the TurbNet sensors and those measured side-by-side with the scintillometer.

• Publisher: MDPI AG
• Subject: Aperture / Artificial intelligence / Artificial neural networks / Atmospheric models / Atmospheric turbulence / Cameras / CCD cameras / Circuit components / Communications equipment / Datasets / deep neural network / electro-optics sensor / Electronic cameras / embedded edge AI computing / Experiments / Inference / Lasers / Light / Light intensity / Luminous intensity / Neural networks / NVIDIA Jetson Xavier Nx / Optical measuring instruments / Optical receivers / Optics / Parameter estimation / Performance evaluation / Propagation / real-time sensing / Refractivity / Remote sensors / Scintillation / Scintillation counters / Sensors / Signal processing / Telescopes