Target pointing device

Abstract

Target Pointing Device The target pointing device (10) for a target (C) comprises: - a reference set including a reference laser with intensity variations of known period, - an additional set (12A) including an additional laser with intensity variations of known period, time-shifted from those of the reference laser, - a tracking set (14) comprising: • a camera (30) for acquiring images of the target (C) and the laser spots on the target (C), • a main processing unit (32) for: o identifying the spots of the reference and additional lasers based on known time signatures, o generating a servo command based on the images and the identification, and • an actuation unit (34) for modifying the orientation of the line of sight of the reference and additional sets (12A) based on the servo command. Figure for the abstract: 1

Description

Title of the invention: Target pointing device

[0001] The present invention relates to a target pointing device.

[0002] In particular, the pointing is a precise pointing performed by several high-power lasers. Specifically, the high-power lasers, as well as the associated viewing devices, are generally mounted on a respective (motorized) structure enabling pre-pointing. The invention thus relates to the ability to position several lasers at the same location on a target over a long distance.

[0003] In a conventional way, to position several lasers at the same place on a target, it is necessary to integrate, on the optical path of each of the lasers, a camera which will perform a servo loop on the direction of the line of sight.

[0004] This therefore requires as many cameras as lasers and relatively complex optics with problems in particular on the compatibility between the spectral band of the camera and the effects related to turbulence on the laser.

[0005] One way to overcome this constraint is to fix the laser's line of sight to the center of the camera's field of view and to position the center of the camera's field of view on the point to be illuminated. It is then assumed that turbulence does not alter the position of the laser relative to the center of the camera's field of view.

[0006] However, this implies a limitation that is difficult to circumvent, namely that, in general, the point aimed at will be close to the barycenter of the target to be sure of illuminating the latter.

[0007] There is therefore a need for a simpler pointing device to be implemented which allows a flow of energy from several lasers to be superimposed on a precise area of ​​a target during a pursuit ensured by a camera and this for a sufficient duration to allow the destruction of the target.

[0008] To this end, the invention relates to a target pointing device comprising

[0009] - a reference pointing assembly comprising a reference laser, the laser of reference laser exhibiting variations in intensity over a known period, forming a known temporal signature for the reference laser,

[0010] - at least one additional pointing assembly comprising an additional laser, each additional pointing set having a line of sight different from the reference pointing set and any other additional pointing sets, each additional laser exhibiting intensity variations of known period which are temporally offset from those of the reference laser and those of any other additional lasers by a known temporal offset so as to define a known temporal signature for each additional laser,

[0011] - a pursuit assembly comprising:

[0012] • a tracking camera suitable for acquiring images of the target and the task of the reference laser and each additional laser on the target, the tracking camera having a line of sight different from the line of sight of the reference pointing set and each additional pointing set,

[0013] • a main processing unit specific to:

[0014] o identify the tasks of the reference laser and each additional laser on the images acquired by the tracking camera based on the known temporal signatures of the reference laser and each additional laser,

[0015] to generate a control command based on the acquired images and the identification performed so as to achieve control of the task of the reference laser and each additional laser on the target, and

[0016] • a main actuation unit capable of changing the orientation of the line of aiming of the reference pointing set and each additional pointing set according to the servo setpoint.

[0017] According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the pointing device comprises one or more of the following features, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations:

[0018] - the reference laser and the additional laser(s) are high-power lasers continuous or quasi-continuous;

[0019] - the intensity variations of the reference laser and the additional laser(s) are periodic extinctions of the signal emitted by said lasers;

[0020] - the reference laser and the additional laser(s) are pulsed beacon lasers sionnels, the reference pointing set and each additional pointing set comprising, in addition, a high-power laser on the same line of sight as the respective reference laser or additional laser of said pointing set;

[0021] - each high-power laser is designed to be activated only when the control of the task of the corresponding beacon laser on the target is achieved;

[0022] - the tracking camera is an event-detection camera designed to detect the intensity variations of the reference laser and each additional laser;

[0023] - the tracking camera is a camera having an acquisition rate higher than the inverse of the smallest time shift of the additional laser(s);

[0024] - the reference laser and each additional laser emit on the same band of wavelengths;

[0025] - the tracking assembly includes a laser for illuminating the target ;

[0026] - the device comprises, for each of the reference pointing set and the or additional scoring sets, a pursuit initialization set including:

[0027] - an initialization camera having a common line of sight to the reference laser for the reference pointing system and respectively for the additional laser for the additional pointing system, the initialization camera being suitable for acquiring images of the target, and

[0028] - an initialization unit suitable for generating a superposition instruction as a function images acquired by the initialization camera to bring the target into a predetermined position within the initialization camera's field of view so that the line of sight of the reference laser or the additional laser under consideration is positioned on the target,

[0029] the main actuation unit being suitable for modifying the orientation of the line of sight of the power laser according to the superposition command;

[0030] - the reference laser and each additional laser are suitable for performing a scan around the target until the signal from said laser is observed on the tracking camera.

[0031] The invention will become clearer upon reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the drawings in which:

[0032] [Fig-1] [Fig.1] is an example of a schematic view of a pointing device including a reference scoring set, several additional scoring sets, a follow-up set, and an initialization set for each scoring set,

[0033] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is an example of a schematic view of each of the reference pointing set and the additional pointing set(s) in an embodiment where the reference laser and each additional laser are high-power lasers,

[0034] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is an example of a schematic detail view of each of the reference pointing set and the additional pointing set(s) in an embodiment where the reference laser and each additional laser are beacon lasers, each coupled to a power laser,

[0035] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is an example of a schematic view of the intensity variations of a reference laser and additional lasers, the intensity variations of each additional laser being time-shifted relative to the reference laser and to the other additional lasers,

[0036] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is an example of a schematic view of details of an initialization set,

[0037] [Fig. 6] [Fig. 6] is an example of a schematic view of the field of view of an initialization camera having a common line of sight with that of the laser. reference or corresponding additional laser, the target being off-center relative to the line of sight of the initialization camera, and

[0038] [Fig.7] [Fig.7] is another schematic view of the field of view of the initialization camera of [Fig.6], the line of sight of the reference laser or corresponding additional laser having been modified so that the target is in the center of the field of view of the initialization camera (laser spot brought back on the target).

[0039] A device 10 for pointing at a target C is illustrated by [Fig.1].

[0040] Target C is, for example, a moving target moving in the air, on land, or in sea. Target C is, for example, an aircraft, a drone, a land vehicle or even a naval vessel.

[0041] As illustrated by [Fig.1], the pointing device 10 includes a reference pointing set 12R, at least one additional pointing set 12A and a tracking set 14. Optionally, the pointing device 10 also includes an initialization set 16 for each of the reference pointing set 12R and of the additional pointing set or sets 12A.

[0042] The pointing device 10 is typically oriented in elevation and azimuth.

[0043] The reference pointing assembly 12R includes a reference laser 20R. A laser is understood to mean a single laser or a combination of several lasers having a common line of sight.

[0044] As illustrated by [Fig.4], the reference laser 20R exhibits intensity variations of known period TR forming a known time signature for the reference laser 20R.

[0045] The additional pointing assembly 12A includes an additional laser 20A.

[0046] Each additional pointing set 12A has a different line of sight from the reference pointing set 12R and any other additional pointing sets 12A. Thus, for example, the reference pointing set 12R and each of the additional pointing sets 12A are positioned on separate supporting structures (in [Fig. 1], supporting structure 17R for the reference pointing set 12R and supporting structure 17A for each additional pointing set 12A). Alternatively, the reference and additional sets are positioned on the same supporting structure.

[0047] As illustrated by [Fig.4], each additional laser 20A exhibits intensity variations of known period TAi which are time-shifted from those of the reference laser 20R and from those of any other additional lasers 20A by a known time shift A; so as to define a known time signature for each additional laser 20A.

[0048] In one example, the time shifts of each additional laser 20A are increasing multiples of each other (identical time shift between two consecutive additional 20A lasers). Alternatively, the time shifts are only chosen so that the intensity variations of the additional 20A lasers do not overlap, the reference for each time shift being the reference laser 20R.

[0049] Preferably, the reference laser 20R and each additional laser 20A emit on the same wavelength band.

[0050] Preferably, apart from the time lag of the respective time variations, the reference laser 20R and the additional laser(s) 20A are identical. Alternatively, the reference laser 20R and the additional laser(s) 20A differ at least in power level, but their wavelength band remains identical or close.

[0051] In an example of an implementation illustrated by [Fig. 2], the reference laser 20R and the additional laser(s) 20A are continuous or quasi-continuous power lasers. The term "quasi-continuous" implies that the emission time is greater than or equal to the energy reduction (or absence) time and that the emission times are on the order of several hundred milliseconds.

[0052] Preferably, in this example, the intensity variations of the reference laser 20R and the additional laser(s) 20A are periodic extinctions of the signal emitted by said lasers (in English* blanking, translated into French as "effacement").

[0053] Preferably, in this example, each of the reference laser 20R and the additional laser(s) 20A is capable of delivering a high average power, typically greater than or equal to 1 kilowatt (kW).

[0054] Each of the reference laser 20R and the additional laser(s) 20A typically has a wavelength band between 0.5 micrometers (pm) and 2.5 pm.

[0055] In another embodiment illustrated by [Fig. 3], the reference laser 20R and the additional laser(s) 20A are pulsed beacon lasers. Preferably, the beacon lasers of the different assemblies are identical.

[0056] In this case, the reference pointing assembly 12R and each additional pointing assembly 12A further comprise a high-power laser on the same line of sight as the respective reference laser 20R or additional laser 20A of said pointing assembly. Each high-power laser is designed to be activated only when the task of the corresponding beacon laser on the target C has been locked. Preferably, the high-power lasers of the different assemblies are identical.

[0057] Each high-power laser has a high average power, typically greater than or equal to 1 kilowatt (kW).

[0058] Each high-power laser typically has a wavelength band between 0.5 micrometers (pm) and 2.5 pm.

[0059] Preferably, the power lasers are identical.

[0060] The pulse rate of the beacon laser is high, typically a few kilohertz (kHz).

[0061] The beacon laser has a high peak power but an average power much lower than the average power of the power laser, its purpose being to ensure the tracking of target C while guaranteeing eye safety at the level of target C. Typically, the average power of the beacon laser is less than or equal to a few W (e.g. 10 Watts).

[0062] The beacon laser preferably has a wavelength band identical or close to that of the power laser. The term "close" means a wavelength difference of less than or equal to 0.2 pm. For example, the power laser is at 1 pm and the beacon laser is at 0.9 pm.

[0063] The high-power laser and the beacon laser share a common line of sight. For example, the beacon laser can be injected into the fiber of the high-power laser or combined with the high-power laser by means of a grating-type optical component. For example, the high-power laser and the beacon laser are carried by the same carrier structure (17A in the case of an additional pointing assembly 12A and 17R in the case of the reference pointing assembly 12R). In the case of beacon lasers, they are aligned and time-shifted for identification.

[0064] The tracking assembly 14 is suitable for ensuring the relative tracking of the target C by the reference laser 20R and each of the additional lasers 20A.

[0065] The tracking assembly 14 includes a tracking camera 30, a main processing unit 32 and a main actuation unit 34. Optionally, the tracking assembly 14 also includes an illumination laser 36.

[0066] The tracking camera 30 is suitable for acquiring images of the target C and of the spot of the reference laser 20R and of each additional laser 20A on the target C (illuminated or not by the illumination laser 36).

[0067] The tracking camera 30 has a line of sight different from the line of sight of the reference pointing assembly 12R and each additional pointing assembly 12A. In particular, the tracking camera 30 is positioned outside the supporting structure 17R, 17A of the reference pointing assembly 12R and each additional pointing assembly 12A. Since the tracking camera 30 is positioned outside, it is no longer affected by backscattering from the high-power laser of each assembly, nor by the requirement to operate at a different wavelength than that of the high-power laser.

[0068] The tracking camera 30 is preferably a camera allowing at least an output rate of certain pixels at more than 5 kHz.

[0069] In one example of implementation, the tracking camera 30 is a camera with Event detection (or event-based camera) is used to detect variations in the intensity of the reference laser 20R and each additional laser 20A. Specifically, the time lags between the intensity variations of the different lasers are chosen so that the events created are not simultaneous with those of the other lasers. The event camera will therefore observe temporal variations in intensity, which are represented by pixels that light up and turn off at known intervals.

[0070] Alternatively, the tracking camera 30 is a camera having an acquisition rate greater than the inverse of the smallest time offset A; of the additional laser(s) 20A. In this case, the tracking camera 30 is configured to be triggered with the reference laser 20R and the additional laser(s) 20A (possible use of a rangefinder).

[0071] In this variant, where the reference laser 20R and the additional laser(s) 20A are beacon lasers, several implementation methods, listed below and combinable with each other, can be implemented to image the task of the reference laser 20R and each additional laser 20A on the target C: - In one example implementation, the tracking camera 30 includes a spectral filter centered on a spectral band different from that of the power laser in each assembly. This prevents the tracking camera 30 from being dazzled by the power lasers. Preferably, the spectral filter of the tracking camera 30 is centered on the spectral band of the beacon lasers (e.g., beacon laser and spectral filter at 0.9 pm, and power laser at 1 pm). - In one implementation example, the high-power laser is designed to switch off periodically during the emission period of the beacon laser. This prevents the tracking camera 30 from becoming overloaded. This phenomenon is called "blanking." The extinction duration is, for example, a few tens of nanoseconds. - In one implementation example, the tracking camera 30 is a camera with an aperture time that allows visualization of the beacon laser's task without saturation by the high-power laser. The aperture time is therefore short enough to avoid saturation. In one example, telemetry is used to open the tracking camera 30 synchronously with the pulses from the illumination laser 36 backscattered by the target C and the visualization of the beacon laser's task 22 without saturation. • the opening time is, for example, determined by means of a rangefinder present on the structure supporting the carrier camera 30, and which measures the distance of the tracking camera 30 to the target C.

[0072] In this variant, where the reference laser 20R and the additional laser(s) 20A are high-power lasers, several implementation methods, listed below and combinable with each other, can be used to image the spot of the reference laser 20R and each additional laser 20A on the target C: - In one implementation example, the tracking camera 30 is a camera with an aperture time that allows visualization of the high-power laser spot without saturation by the high-power laser. The aperture time is therefore short enough to avoid saturation. In one example, telemetry is used to open the tracking camera 30 synchronously with the pulses of the illumination laser 36 backscattered by the target C and the visualization of the high-power laser spot 12 without saturation. • the opening time is, for example, determined by means of a rangefinder present on the structure supporting the carrier camera 30 and which measures the distance of the tracking camera 30 to the target C. - In one example of implementation, the power laser is designed to periodically switch off (in English "blanking") so as not to saturate the tracking camera 30. Preferably, the periodic switching off of the power laser is synchronized with the emission rate of the illumination laser 36. A prior measurement of the distance then allows the tracking detector to be opened appropriately.

[0073] The main processing unit 32 is designed to identify the spots of the reference laser 20R and each additional laser 20A on the images acquired by the tracking camera 30 based on the known temporal signatures of the reference laser 20R and each additional laser 20A. For this purpose, the temporal signatures have been stored, for example, in a memory of the main processing unit 32, or in a database accessible by the main processing unit 32.

[0074] In the case of an event camera, the analysis can be carried out in various ways such as using barycenters, the contour of each of the tasks, the totality of the detected pixels, etc... This can be done at a very high rate due to the bandwidth of the event camera.

[0075] The main processing unit 32 is also suitable for generating a servo command based on the acquired images and the identification carried out so as to achieve servo control of the task of the reference laser 20R and of each additional laser 20A on the target C.

[0076] The main processing unit 32 is, for example, a calculator.

[0077] The main actuation unit 34 is adapted to modify the orientation of the line of sight of the reference pointing assembly 12R and of each set of Additional pointing 12A is provided as a function of the servo setpoint. The main actuation unit 34 includes, for example, a main actuator 38 on each line of sight. Each main actuator 38 is typically supported by the corresponding support structure 17R or 17A and is at the output of the high-power laser of that support structure. Each main actuator 38 includes, for example, one or more opto-mechanical components.

[0078] The illumination laser 36 is suitable for illuminating the target C.

[0079] The illumination laser 36 is a pulsed laser. Preferably, when the laser Reference laser 20R and the additional laser(s) 20A are beacon lasers, the illumination laser 36 has the same emission rate as the beacon lasers and is synchronized with the beacon lasers, possibly slightly time-shifted.

[0080] The illumination laser 36, the power lasers 20 and, where applicable, the beacon lasers 22 have wavelengths compatible with observation by the tracking camera 30 (i.e., in the wavelength band of the tracking camera 30).

[0081] Each optional initialization set 16 is specific to initializing the relative tracking of the task of the reference laser 20R or the additional laser 20A considered on the target C. In particular, each initialization set 16 is especially useful in the case of small targets, to facilitate the superimposition of the task of the reference laser 20R or the additional laser 20A considered on the target C at startup. Each initialization set 16 is typically carried by the carrier structure 17R, 17A of the pointing assembly considered.

[0082] As illustrated by [Fig.5], the initialization assembly 16 comprises an initialization camera 40 and an initialization unit 42.

[0083] The initialization camera 40 operates in a spectral band different from that of the power laser of the assembly under consideration and is suitable for acquiring images of the target C.

[0084] The initialization camera 40 has a common line of sight for the reference laser 20R for the reference pointing assembly 12R and for the additional laser 20A for the additional pointing assembly 12A (factory setting). Thus, the spot formed by the reference laser 20R or the additional laser 20A is approximately (taking into account the effects of turbulence) at the center of the initialization camera 40's field of view. The initialization camera 40 is used to bring the target C into a predetermined position within the initialization camera 40's field of view before starting the fine pointing process.

[0085] For example, the line of sight of the initialization camera 40 is brought back to that of the reference laser 20R or the corresponding additional laser 20A via a hole mirror 46, a splitter or a spectral filter.

[0086] The initialization unit 42 is suitable for generating a superposition command based on the images acquired by the initialization camera 40 to bring the target C into a predetermined position in the field of view of the initialization camera 40 so that the line of sight of the reference laser 20R or the additional laser 20A considered is positioned on the target C. The predetermined position is typically the center or an area close to the center of the field of view of the initialization camera 40. The initialization unit 42 is, for example, a computer.

[0087] The main actuation unit 34 is suitable for modifying the orientation of the line of sight of the reference laser 20R or the additional laser 20A considered (and where applicable of the initialization camera 40) according to the superposition instruction.

[0088] Alternatively, the pointing device 10 does not include an initialization set 16 and the positioning of the spot of the reference laser 20R or the additional laser 20A considered on the target C is done at start-up via a scan carried out by respectively the reference laser 20R or the additional laser 20A considered around the target C until the signal is observed on the tracking camera 30. For example, the site-bearing orientation of the device 10 can be used to carry out the scanning pattern.

[0089] An example of the operation of the pointing device 10 will now be described.

[0090] In the case where the reference laser 20R and the additional laser 20A are beacon lasers, at start-up, only the beacon lasers are activated and the power lasers are switched off.

[0091] When the device 10 includes an initialization set 16 for the reference pointing set 12R and the additional pointing set 12A, each initialization set operates in the following manner.

[0092] The target C, possibly illuminated by the illumination laser 36, is imaged by the initialization camera 40. The initialization unit 42 generates a superposition command sent to the main actuator 38 aimed at bringing the target C back to the center of the field of view of the initialization camera 40 so that the line of sight of the reference laser 20R or the additional laser 20A considered is positioned on the target C.

[0093] By way of example, Figures 6 and 7 illustrate the field of view of an initialization camera 40, with the reference laser 20R or the additional laser 20A under consideration emitted at the center of the field of view (common line of sight with the initialization camera 40). The transition from [Fig. 6] to [Fig. 7] is achieved by changing the orientation of the line of sight of the reference laser 20R or the additional laser 20A under consideration (and therefore of the initialization camera 40), thus bringing the target C back to the center of the field of view of the initialization camera 40.

[0094] Alternatively, the reference laser 20R or the additional laser 20A considered performs a scan around target C until the signal from the reference laser 20R or the additional laser 20A considered on target C is observed on the tracking camera 30.

[0095] Once the spots of the reference laser 20R and the additional lasers 20A are considered visible on the target C by the tracking camera 30, images of the target C and of the spots of the reference laser 20R and the additional lasers 20A are successively acquired by the tracking camera 30.

[0096] The main processing unit 32 identifies the tasks of the reference laser 20R and of each additional laser 20A on the images acquired by the tracking camera 30 according to the known temporal signatures of the reference laser 20R and of each additional laser 20A.

[0097] The main processing unit 32 also generates a servo command based on the acquired images and the identification carried out so as to achieve servo control of the task of the reference laser 20R and of each additional laser 20A on the target C (so that the task of the laser in question remains concentrated in the same place).

[0098] In the case where the reference laser 20R and the additional laser 20A are beacon lasers, the power lasers are then activated once the servoing of the tasks of the beacon lasers on the target C is achieved.

[0099] Thus, the invention makes it possible to encode the intensity of several lasers whose temporal signature, after detection by a camera, will allow them to be identified and their orientation corrected, in order to ensure their convergence at the same point. In particular, an original aspect is the use of periodic extinctions (intensity modulations) to create temporally differentiated events on the tracking camera 30 in order to identify each laser and its position in the image relative to the others.

[0100] This allows much more flexibility (orientation of the line of sight, multiple beams, ...) and reduces the number of servo cameras.

[0101] It also allows direct observation of the position of the lasers, taking into account, for example, the heating of the optical path of the lasers, the problems of glare from the camera linked to the monostatic system, or localized turbulence.

[0102] In summary, the pointing device 10 has many advantages: - As the reference laser 20R and the additional laser(s) 20A can be seen on the tracking camera 30, it is possible to correct the effects related to turbulence. - If the structure moves in temperature, the direction of the reference laser 20R and the additional lasers 20A will be corrected in real time and will therefore always illuminate the same targeted point.

[0103]

[0104] - It is possible to directly address any location on target C, including the most vulnerable areas. - The illuminated area is observed directly and it is possible to see directly the effects of the laser on target C. - It is possible to manage several lasers simultaneously at the same wavelength or at similar wavelengths. This architecture is primarily intended for laser-directed energy weapons but can be used for any application requiring the superposition of laser beams. A person skilled in the art will understand that the described embodiments can be combined with each other provided they are technically compatible.

Claims

Demands

1. A device (10) for pointing at a target (C) comprising: - a reference pointing assembly (12R) comprising a reference laser (20R), the reference laser (20R) exhibiting known period intensity variations (TR) forming a known time signature for the reference laser (20R), - at least one additional pointing set (12A) comprising an additional laser (20A), each additional pointing set (12A) having a line of sight different from the reference pointing set (12R) and any other additional pointing sets (12A), each additional laser (20A) exhibiting known period intensity variations (TAi) which are temporally offset from those of the reference laser (20R) and from those of any other additional lasers (20A) by a known temporal offset (A;) so as to define a known temporal signature for each additional laser (20A), - a pursuit set (14) comprising: • a tracking camera (30) suitable for acquiring images of the target (C) and the spot of the reference laser (20R) and of each additional laser (20A) on the target (C), the tracking camera (30) having a line of sight different from the line of sight of the reference pointing assembly (12R) and of each additional pointing assembly (12A), • a main processing unit (32) designed to: • identify the reference laser tasks (20R) and each additional laser (20A) on the images acquired by the tracking camera (30) as a function of the known temporal signatures of the reference laser (20R) and each additional laser (20A), • generate a servo control command based on the acquired images and the identification performed in order to achieve servo control of the laser task of reference (20R) and each additional laser (20A) on the target (C), and a main actuation unit (34) capable of modifying the orientation of the line of sight of the reference pointing assembly (12R) and each additional pointing assembly (12A) according to the servo setpoint.

2. Device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the reference laser (20R) and the additional laser(s) (20A) are continuous or quasi-continuous power lasers.

3. Device (10) according to claim 2, wherein the intensity variations of the reference laser (20R) and of the additional laser(s) (20A) are periodic extinctions of the signal emitted by said lasers.

4. Device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the reference laser (20R) and the additional laser(s) (20A) are pulsed beacon lasers, the reference pointing assembly (12R) and each additional pointing assembly (12A) further comprising a high-power laser on the same line of sight as the respective reference laser (20R) or additional laser (20A) of said pointing assembly.

5. Device (10) according to claim 4, wherein each power laser is suitable for activation only when the task control of the corresponding beacon laser on the target (C) is achieved.

6. Device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the tracking camera (30) is an event-detecting camera suitable for detecting variations in intensity of the reference laser (20R) and each additional laser (20A).

7. Device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the tracking camera (30) is a camera having an acquisition rate greater than the inverse of the smallest time offset (AO) of the additional laser(s) (20A).

8. Device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the reference laser (20R) and each additional laser (20A) emit on the same band of wavelengths.

9. Device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the tracking assembly (14) includes an illumination laser (36) suitable for illuminating the target (C).

10. Device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the device (10) comprises, for each of the reference pointing set (12R) and the additional pointing set(s) (12A), a tracking initialization set (16) comprising: - an initialization camera (40) having a common line of sight to the reference laser (20R) for the reference pointing assembly (12R) and respectively to the additional laser (20A) for the additional pointing assembly (12A), the initialization camera (40) being suitable for acquiring images of the target (C), and - an initialization unit (42) capable of generating a superposition instruction based on the images acquired by the initialization camera (40) to bring the target (C) into a predetermined position in the field of view of the initialization camera (40) so that the line of sight of the reference laser (20R) or the additional laser (20A) considered is positioned on the target (C), the main actuation unit (34) being adapted to modify the orientation of the line of sight of the high-power laser (12) according to the superposition command

11. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the reference laser (20R) and each additional laser (20A) are suitable for performing a scan around the target (C) until the signal of said laser (20R, 20A) is observed on the tracking camera (30).

Images