Patent ID: 8939081
Filing Date: 2015-01-27
Classification: F41H,G01S,Y02A

Abstract:
1. A method for backtracking a trajectory of an airborne target, comprising: illuminating with a laser beam a wake trailing the airborne target from a position at which the target is detected backward until the wake is no longer observable, said laser beam having a spatial pattern and a temporal waveform selected to discriminate wake turbulence from naturally occurring atmospheric phenomena; detecting laser energy backscattered from molecules, aerosols and particulate matter in the volume of air in and around the wake trailing the airborne target; processing the detected laser energy to compute one or more atmospheric flow field images along the wake, each said image including a profile of one or more flow field measurements; and processing the profiles of flow field measurements to estimate a backward trajectory of the airborne target from the detected position of the target to the position at which the wake is no longer observable.