Free-Space Optical Path Loss Measurement Solution

Concepts

• teddington
• precision equipment
• laboratory and optical equipment
• free-space optical path loss
• optical transceiver
• baseline measurement of atmospheric path loss
• measurement solution
• optical path loss
• measurement
• npl

Location

Description

In partnership with the Met Office, NPL will be conducting a long-term outdoor experiment to monitor the degradation of autonomous vehicle (AV) vision systems under changing weather conditions. As part of this project, NPL wishes to procure a measurement solution that includes an optical transceiver to measure the free-space optical path loss from visible to infra-red between two or more points up to 250 metres apart, where the absorption of light is caused by air, rain, snow or fog. We require several reference instruments to provide a baseline, calibrated measurement of the environmental conditions. For example, in weather-monitoring, solar irradiance, rainfall, droplet size etc will be acquired in real time. The AV sensors will be directed towards several calibrated targets and their change in performance with weather observed. To fully analyse the AV sensors, a baseline measurement of atmospheric path loss between AV sensor and target is required. The maximum range of the testbed is 250m, but we need to quantify the optical path loss from visible to infra-red (IR) for ranges of 10, 25, 50, 100, 150 and 250m. The use of multiple retro-reflecting targets may be utilised but if an instrument has alternative capability to undertake the measurement, this will be attractive. The minimal operational spectral range must be continuous from 350nm to 850nm and have some bands of coverage from 800nm to ideally 15µm. The required spectral resolution does not require the need for chemical signature analysis and a target of 10nm is sought over the visible range. If higher resolution is available, this will be seen as a useful feature, but a balance between data acquisition and resolution must be achieved to enable data capture in less than a second. Participation is via the London Universities eSourcing Portal. Participants must provide qualification information.

CPV Codes

• 38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

Indicators

• Contract is suitable for SMEs.

Other Information

The procurement documents are available online https://lupc.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.shtml