Remote Sensing Branch
The Remote Sensing Branch conducts research, design and development of state-of-the-art electro-optical instruments and sensors to provide both remote sensing and in-site measurements for scientific, exploration and aeronautic applications. Our work spans multiple engineering and science disciplines and encompasses both active and passive sensor systems. We provide conceptual design analysis; prototype and flight systems development; and we plan, manage and support instrument field test campaigns and flight instrument projects and missions.
Expertise
- Active and passive electro-optical systems development and instrument design
- Laser component and system modeling
- Laser materials modeling and development
- Laser mission concept studies and evaluation of advanced laser system concepts
- Laser ranging, velocity, and hazard avoidance
- Flash lidar development
- Direct and coherent lidar receiver design and development
- Lidar instrument design, build and testing for ground, airborne and space applications
- Flight laser systems development
- Unique laser development from science requirements
- Fabry-Perot interferometer development
- Optical and UV to IR detector subsystem design, test and characterization
- Embedded electronic subsystem design, test and characterization
- Raman spectroscopy
- Quantum mechanical modeling
- Sensor systems conceptual design, performance modeling, simulation, specification, prototyping and characterization
- Sensor calibration and data analysis
- Sensor demonstration from the lab, through field testing and into spaceflight
- Temperature and pressure sensor system design and characterization
- In-house flight instrument fabrication
- System assembly, integration, test and validation
- System aircraft and spacecraft instrument integration and test
Disciplines
- Physicists
- Optical Engineers
- Electrical Engineers
- Computer Scientists
- Spectroscopists
- Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Technologist
- Mechanical, Structural and Thermal Analysts
- System Engineers
Products
- ADAMS Modeling, Simulation, and Analysis
- Mechanical Engineering Drawings
- NASTRAN/PATRAN and Hypersizer Structural Analyses
- ProEngineer CAD Models
- Systems Engineering Products
Labs
- 2 Micron Solid State Laser Lab
- Coherent LIDAR Receiver Lab
- Diode Pumped Laser Lab
- Laser / LIDAR Electronic Lab
- Laser Diode Characterization Lab
- Laser Material Spectroscopy Lab, Contact: Brian Walsh
- LIDAR System Integration Lab
- LIDAR Systems Development Clean Room
- LIDAR Test Observatory & Test Range
- EMI/EMC Lab
- Advanced LIDAR Development Lab
- Data Acquisition Systems Development Lab
- Flight Instrument Deployment Lab
- Flight Instrument Deployment Lab
- Flight Instruments Integration Pre-Clean & Clean Rooms
- Flight Systems Development Lab
- Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) Lab
- Optical Detectors Development & Test Lab
- Optical Metrology & Calibration Lab
- Optical Receivers Development Lab
- Raman Spectroscopy Lab
- Rooftop Observatory Lab
- Spectrometers Development Lab
- High Spectral Resolution Laser Lab
- Remote Sensing Interferometer Development Laboratory
- Ground, Aircraft, and High-Altitude Balloon Borne Remote Sensing Field Instruments Development Laboratory
- Flight Instrument Assembly, Integration, and Test Clean Room
- 8 cu.ft. Vacuum Test Chamber
- Ambient Pressure Thermal Test Chamber
- Remote Sensing Lab for Raman and Fluorescence Spectroscopy
- Electronics Systems Test and Analysis Laboratory
- Detector and Filter Spectral Characterization Spectrometers
- Optical Systems Test and Development Laboratory
- Optical Component Metrology/Performance Characterization (Zygo)
- Surface Reflectivity Measurement Facility (BRDF)
- Temperature Sensor Calibration Bath
- Pressure Transducer Characterization System
Branch Management
Alan Little, Head​
Yana Z. Williams, Assistant Head
David B. Harper, Assistant Head