The advance of Laser Radar by using Varioptic Tunable Liquid Lens

Accurate detection and identification of insects are important for ecological monitoring and pest management in agriculture. Laser radar systems often benefit from improvements to increase Signal-to-Noise ratio. Authors explore the application of a Varioptic® liquid lens (Corning, NY) to enhance that ratio for laser radar systems in detecting and identifying insects. The Varioptic® liquid lens (Corning, NY), with adjustable focal length is controlled by LabView software integrated into a laser radar system. The LabView code is developed and tested with the near-infrared cw laser ( available at the Remote Sensing Lab of the Grove School of Engineering, CCNY. Previous results indicated a significant improvement of the Signal-to-Noise ratio detection resolution of the signal, particularly at different distances. Consequently, the usage of the Varioptic® liquid lens allows for a higher value of signal-to-noise ratio and increases the distance between the laser radar and insects at which the insects can be detected and identified. This advancement in laser radar technology presents a promising tool for more effective pest management.