Multimodal sub-THz radar and LiDAR imaging for NDE Applications

We introduce a sub-THz FMCW radar combined with a LiDAR unit as a multimodal 3D imaging system for nondestructive evaluation applications in industry and security. A demonstration of this system is presented for a straight forward imaging scenario of targets concealed behind cardboard obscurants for manufacturing quality control. The radar imaging system operates near 100 GHz by raster scanning a confocal mirror. The 2D LiDAR sensor is mounted to the raster scanning mirror of the radar unit to capture a 3D point cloud. The LiDAR unit can serve to identify the external features that will provide parameters to optimize the radar performance and to assist in the deconvolution of the obscurant clutter from the target signatures that include image intensity, coherent detection of motion, and micro-Doppler signatures.