Modeling and analyzing point cloud generation in missile-borne LiDAR

The missile-borne LiDAR has an essential prospect in precise guidance. However, the instability of the missile has a significant impact on the precision of LIDAR point cloud, thus modeling and analyzing the influencing factors of point cloud generation is necessary. In this investigation, the authors modeled the point cloud calculation process of missile-borne linear array scanning LiDAR under ideal conditions and analyzed the effect of position change on the field of view (FOV) in the course of platform motion. Subsequently, the authors summarized that the stability concerning the field of view and the target tracking are dependent on three limiting conditions. Finally, the authors derived an error formula and analyzed several typical errors in missile platform flight, including scanner error, POS error, system integration error, and platform vibration error. Based on theoretical analysis and simulation experiments, the model proposed in this paper can provide a theoretical basis for the design of the missile-borne LiDAR system and the selection of related instruments in practice.