Compressive laser ranging with embedded systems

Abstract

Compressive sensing is a signal processing technique that has recently come to the forefront due to its ability to work around the well-known Shannon-Nyquist-Whittaker sampling theorem by exploiting certain properties in real world signals. This thesis will explore the theory behind compressive sensing and demonstrate its implementation toward laser ranging, cumulatively known as compressive laser ranging. Experiments were set up using electronic and photonic devices combining the theory behind compressive sensing and laser ranging and successful results measuring distances to multiple targets were obtained. The experimental setup was also implemented on an FPGA in an effort to create a compact laser ranging system.