Laser pointing technology

The UK's Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) have been researching stabilised laser-pointing technology for a number of years. Several proof-of-principle generic laser pointing and beam steering platforms have been designed, built and tested for a range of applications. These platforms were developed as research tools to develop key laser pointing and target tracking technologies. The key research technologies examined include target tracking, sight-line stabilisation, laser boresight and alignment laser integration and system control processing. This paper describes typical techniques and technologies required to direct a laser beam to a target and maintain it on that target for the desired period of time. It covers some of the system aspect including laser integration and laser boresighting concepts and techniques.