A method of finding, in real time, an optimal time for transmitting and / or receiving energy to and / or from a target through the atmosphere

Abstract

A method of finding, in real time, an optimal time for transmitting and / or receiving energy to and / or from a target through the atmosphere, comprising: acquiring data of a target in the atmosphere, by an acquiring device; analyzing at least part of said acquired data; deciding when to transmit and / or receive energy based on said analyzing; and transmitting energy to said target and / or receiving energy from said target based on said deciding.

Description

[0001] A METHOD OF FINDING, IN REAL TIME, AN OPTIMAL TIME FOR TRANSMITTING AND / OR RECEIVING ENERGY TO AND / OR FROM A TARGET THROUGH THE ATMOSPHERE

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a method of finding, in real time, an optimal time for transmitting and / or receiving energy to and / or from a target through the atmosphere.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] Atmosphere poses major challenges for electromagnetic waves in general, and electro-optics-based systems in particular, including laser rangefinders, free-space optical (FSO) communication systems, remote sensing technologies, and direct energy weapons, such as, laser weapons. Turbulence interferes with laser beams, causing the beams to fragment before they reach the target or sensor. Since these systems depend on the accurate transmission and reception of light or energy, turbulence disrupts these processes in multiple ways.

[0006] For laser rangefinders, turbulence causes beam wander, making the laser beam deviate from its intended path due to changes in the atmosphere's refractive index. This results in inaccurate distance measurements, especially for small or distant targets. Turbulence also increases beam spreading, which decreases the intensity of light reaching the target and weakens the reflected signal, thus compromising the rangefinder's effectiveness, particularly over long distances. Additionally, rapid fluctuations in the laser light’s intensity, known as scintillation, can cause errors in detecting the returned signal and inconsistencies in measurement. Scattering of the beam by turbulent air further reduces signal strength and detection capability, while phase distortions from refractive index variations can introduce significant measurement errors for long distances.

[0007] In FSO communication systems, turbulence similarly affects performance. It causes beam scattering and divergence, reducing the power density at the receiver and increasing bit error rates, which shortens the communication range. Scintillation leads to signal fading and interruptions, resulting in data loss or increased error rates, particularly over long distances or in turbulent conditions. Beam wander can misalign the laser beam between transmitter and receiver,complicating long-distance communication links. Multipath propagation, where different parts of the beam take varied paths, causes interference and reduces overall communication capacity. The dynamic nature of turbulence further complicates link stability.

[0008] Remote sensing technologies also suffer from turbulence which causes image distortion and blurring, degrading spatial resolution, and affecting applications like land use mapping. Signal attenuation and scattering result in darker or less distinct images, while radiometric calibration errors impact data accuracy. In interferometric systems, phase distortions from turbulence affect surface measurements. Turbulence-induced variability leads to inconsistent data quality, complicating monitoring and analysis.

[0009] In recent years, solutions for air defense have been shifting towards high-power lasers. Currently, existing solutions offer long-range solutions based on thermal generation (Continuous Wave Lasers). In those solutions, the target must be in focus for a few seconds to achieve the goal. For laser weapons, turbulence causes beam distortion and increased divergence, reducing precision and effectiveness. Beam wander can misalign the weapon, impacting its ability to hit the target effectively due to the effective expansion of the spot on the target. Despite mitigation strategies like adaptive optics and beam shaping, turbulence remains a significant challenge.

[0010] In summary, atmospheric turbulence impacts the performance of electro-optic systems across various applications, making understanding and mitigating these effects crucial for improving accuracy and reliability.

[0011] Therefore, there is a need for a method of finding, in real time, an optimal time for transmitting and / or receiving energy to and / or from a target through the atmosphere.

[0012] SUMMARY

[0013] According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of finding, in real time, an optimal time for transmitting and / or receiving energy to and / or from a target through the atmosphere, comprising: acquiring data of a target in the atmosphere, by an acquiring device; analyzing at least part of the acquired data; deciding when to transmit and / orreceive energy based on the analyzing; and transmitting energy to the target and / or receiving energy from the target based on the deciding.

[0014] The acquiring device may be selected from the group consisting of: a high-speed camera, sensors arrays, radar receiver and / or fast detectors, Photodiode Arrays (PDAs), a Charge-Coupled Device (CCD), a Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS), an Infrared Detector (NIR, SWIR, MWIR & LWIR), an Avalanche Photodiode (APD), Superconducting Nanowire Single-Photon Detectors (SNSPDs), Single-Photon Avalanche Diodes (SPAD), Quantum Dots and CMOS Hybrid Arrays, and a fast detector.

[0015] The analysis may comprise scoring at least part of the at least part of the acquired data.

[0016] The scoring may be performed using at least one of: spatial domain methods, spectral domain methods, and learning-based methods.

[0017] The spatial domain methods may comprise at least one of: Laplacian operator, variance of a gradient, tenengrad sharpness metric, normalized gray-level variance, and edge detectionbased methods.

[0018] The spectral domain methods may comprise at least one of: Fourier transform-based sharpness measurement, high-frequency energy-based methods, spectral entropy, wavelet transform sharpness, power spectrum sharpness metric, and discrete cosine transform sharpness metric.

[0019] The learning-based methods may comprise at least one of: Sharpness Convolutional Neural Network (S-CNN), Deep Sharpness Regression (DSR), Sharpness Generative Adversarial Networks (S-GAN), and Sharpness Autoencoder (S-AE).

[0020] The decision when to transmit and / or receive energy may be taken by a decision algorithm predicting future quality score to ensure optimal atmospheric conditions.

[0021] The decision algorithm may use at least one of: statistical methods, and learning-based methods.

[0022] The statistical methods may comprise at least one of: Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA), Single Exponential Smoothing (SES), Holt’s Linear Trend (HLT), Holt-Winters Seasonal (HWS), Z-Score Thresholding (ZST), and Quantile-Based Thresholding (QBT).

[0023] The learning-based methods may comprise at least one of: Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks, Temporal Convolutional Networks (TCN), Reinforcement Learning (RL), Neural Prophet Thresholding (NPT), Dynamic Time Warping with Neural Networks (DWT-NN).

[0024] The method may further comprise, prior to acquiring data of a target in the atmosphere, detecting a target and / or receiving a target location.

[0025] The method may further comprise adjusting direction of the acquiring device.

[0026] The adjustment may be performed using a pan / tilt mechanism.

[0027] The method may further comprise real-time tracking thereby ensuring continuous monitoring of the target.

[0028] According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a system for finding, in real time, an optimal time for transmitting and / or receiving energy to and / or from a target through the atmosphere, comprising: an acquiring device configured to acquire data of a target in the atmosphere; a processing unit configured to analyze at least part of the acquired data in real-time; a decision algorithm configured to decide when to transmit and / or receive energy; and at least one of: an energy receiver configured to receive energy from the target, and an energy provider configured to transmit energy to the target.

[0029] The acquiring device may comprise at least one of: a high-speed camera, sensors arrays, radar receiver and / or fast detectors, Photodiode Arrays (PDAs), a Charge-Coupled Device (CCD), a Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS), an Infrared Detector (NIR, SWIR, MWIR & LWIR), an Avalanche Photodiode (APD), Superconducting Nanowire SinglePhoton Detectors (SNSPDs), Single-Photon Avalanche Diodes (SPAD), Quantum Dots and CMOS Hybrid Arrays, and a fast detector.

[0030] The processing unit may further be configured to score at least part of the at least part of the acquired data.The system may further comprise an illuminator configured to enhance visibility.

[0031] The illuminator may be selected from the group consisting of a spotlight, a laser, laser diodes, and a light source.

[0032] The energy receiver and / or the energy provider may be selected from the group consisting of a ready -to-use Laser Range Finder (LRF), lasers, laser diodes, a Quantum-cascade Laser (QCL), a radar, an FSO communication device for high-speed data transmission and reception, and an energy weapon.

[0033] The system may further comprise a pan / tilt mechanism configured to enable precise positioning and tracking of the target in real-time.

[0034] The system may further comprise a feedback loop configured to ensure continuous monitoring, and adaptation of the pan / tilt mechanism.

[0035] The system may further comprise an optical telescope or dedicated lenses configured to enable at least one of: focusing, directing, and controlling a laser beam.

[0036] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] For better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, purely by way of example, to the accompanying drawings.

[0038] With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. In the accompanying drawings:Fig. 1 shows an exemplary prior art outcome of a calculation to determine the likelihood of capturing a fortuitous short-exposure image amidst the turbulence and the probability of obtaining a good-exposure image;

[0039] Fig- 2 shows Strehl ratio vs Phase variance;

[0040] Fig- 3 shows the fluence on the target [kW / cm2] for a hi-power laser as function of lucky condition;

[0041] Fig. 4 shows the echo power received [nW] as a function of the lucky condition under turbulence strength (Cn2) of 5 IO-13m-2 / 3measured at Im above ground;

[0042] Fig. 5 shows a flowchart of the method, according to embodiments of the present invention; and

[0043] Fig. 6 shows an exemplary system which may utilize the method of the present invention, according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0044] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0045] Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components and / or methods set forth in the following description and / or illustrated in the drawings and / or the Examples. The invention is applicable to other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0046] The present invention provides a method of finding, in real time, an optimal time for transmitting and / or receiving energy to and / or from a target through the atmosphere.

[0047] It is well-known in the scientific literature, that there is a significant degradation in image quality caused by turbulence, leading to inferior performance compared to the diffraction-limitedperformance of the system's aperture. Since this discovery, studying turbulence and finding ways to counter their effects has become crucial to improve devices' performances of mid to long-range systems operating through the atmosphere.

[0048] Lucky Imaging is a technique that takes advantage of short-exposure images captured in moments of improved atmospheric conditions. By selecting the frames with the least distortion, lucky Imaging can mitigate the impact of turbulence on image quality. The fundamental physical explanation is that, over very short periods of time (ranging from milliseconds to several dozen milliseconds), atmospheric conditions may significantly exceed the average. This can lead to a considerable enhancement in image quality. The current approach involves acquiring data, e.g., capturing numerous images, and subsequently identifying the most optimal image taken during a "lucky" window in an offline process.

[0049] The present invention's innovative approach, "Lucky Acting", harnesses the potential of atmospheric conditions to optimize energy transmitting and / or receiving, ensuring optimal conditions for the propagation of electromagnetic waves through the atmosphere.

[0050] The fundamental concept of the present invention's method may be referred to hereinbelow as "Lucky Acting", which is the ability to continuously acquire data of the atmosphere, identify fortuitous windows of opportunity in real-time, and transmit or receive energy through the atmosphere to and / or from the target(s) in real-time.

[0051] "Lucky Acting" presents an interesting opportunity as it offers advantages without requiring complex hardware modifications. This approach enhances system performance, minimizes overall complexity compared to other active methods for addressing atmospheric challenges, is cost-effective, maintains energy quality until it reaches to the target or is received from the target, and is easy to implement and maintain.

[0052] "Lucky Acting" offers a cost-effective alternative compared to adaptive optics and other hardware-intensive methods. By leveraging the inherent variations in atmospheric turbulence, the method can “choose” moments of improved atmospheric conditions, reducing the need for expensive hardware modifications. By "waiting" a short time for opportune moments to transmit or receive energy, "Lucky Acting" ensures that the energy quality remains almost intact until it reaches the target or the receiver. This preservation of energy quality results in improved effectiveness and accuracy."Lucky Acting" is particularly well-suited, for example, for lasers which emit laser energy in short-duration pulses and for accurate data collection which aligns well with the brief "opportunity" time available during favorable atmospheric conditions.

[0053] For example, by using short duration pulses at favorable atmospheric conditions, the method of the present invention may enable to perform long range laser accurate ranging, simplify and increase performance of FSO communication systems, improve accurate data collection for remote sensing, improve hi-Energy laser performances, and more.

[0054] As the foundation of our invention, we researched and identified examples that illustrate the optimal balance between rapid action and enhanced system performance.

[0055] As mentioned before, the "Lucky Acting" approach is based on the well-known Lucky Imaging approach. According to the Lucky Imaging approach, the atmospheric Mutual Coherence Function (MCF), is defined by (1):

[0056] exp[-(p / po)5 / 3]

[0057]

[0058] The transverse coherence length for a plane wave, p0, is given by (2):

[0059] _3 /

[0060] (2) Po = [1.46k2J0LC2(z)dz]5

[0061]

[0062] where k = 2 is the wavelength and L the slant range. The dependence of Cn2on z is A,

[0063] mostly because of the height changing.

[0064] Fried’s coherence length (or Fried parameter) is defined as the diameter of a circular area over which the rms (root mean square) wavefront aberration due to passage through the atmosphere is equal to ~1 radian.

[0065] The Fried parameter, r0, has units of length and is equal to r0= 2. lp0.

[0066] For plane wave, the aperture-averaged spatial phase variance is defined by (3):

[0067] 5 /

[0068] (3) CT2= 1.0299 (Deff / r0)3[rad2] >

[0069] where Deff is the effective beam diameter.Fried further conducted a calculation to determine the likelihood of capturing the fortuitous short-exposure image amidst the turbulence, while excluding the influence of pan and tilt.

[0070] Fig. 1 shows an exemplary prior art outcome of a calculation to determine the likelihood of capturing a fortuitous short-exposure image amidst the turbulence and the probability of obtaining a good-exposure image.

[0071] While r0is defined for prolonged exposure, D is the diameter of a circular area over which the rms wavefront aberration due to passage through the atmosphere is equal to ~1 radian for short exposure, where D = nr0. For n=5, the probability is -10% which decreases to -2% at n=6.

[0072] The simplest way to estimate the turbulence effects on peak fluence of beam propagation through atmospheric conditions is the use of Marechai approximation for Strehl ratio (Fig.2). The Strehl ratio (SR) is the ratio of the peak aberrated image intensity compared to the maximum attainable intensity using an ideal optical system limited only by diffraction over the system's aperture. According to Marechai approximation SR = e~2where <T2is the phase variance as defined above.

[0073] It is found out that Marechai approximation underestimates SR, especially at high phase variance (low SR) as can be seen in Fig.2 (prior art) which shows the Strehl ratio vs Phase variance. In the upcoming calculations, the Marechai approximation is used, though it is important to recognize that this approach is more stringent compared to real-world conditions.

[0074] Another parameter, which should be considered in the simulation, is the atmosphere time constant. This represents the time interval between two distinct wavefronts, where the phases between them are no longer correlated. To put it simply, it refers to the duration during which the atmospheric conditions are completely changing. According to the following equation (4) Torepresents the atmosphere time correlation, it signifies the time interval between two different wavefronts where the phases between them are no longer correlated.

[0075]

[0076] where v is the tangential average wind velocity on the path of propagation.

[0077] Under typical conditions, with ro = 5 cm and a tangential wind velocity of approximately 10 m / s, the atmospheric time constant is about 5 milliseconds. This results in roughly 200 atmospheric conditions per second. According to Fried's calculation, the probability of an atmospheric lateral window of D = 6ro is around 2%, meaning approximately 4 such windows can be found every second. For D = 5ro the probability is increased to about 10%.

[0078] By similar considerations, the "Lucky Acting" window remains open for TLA« which is about 25-30 milliseconds (D = 5-6ro).

[0079] Under typical conditions, using a D / ro ratio of 6 appears to be the optimal choice. Since the probability depends entirely on the D / ro ratio, it's clear that a higher D / ro ratio results in a lower probability. In practice, when wind velocities are low, the ideal D / ro ratio tends to be slightly lower, usually ranging between 5 and 5.5. The aperture-averaged spatial phase variance for short exposure is calculated according to the following equation (5):

[0080] <

[0081]

[0082] The phase variance described for short exposure, using the Marechai approximation, can be used to estimate resolution when receiving energy from the target. As the phase variance decreases significantly with increasing D, employing the "Lucky Acting" effect substantially enhances the resolution of the target. Similarly, this approach also dramatically increases the peak fluence of the transmitted energy to the target and / or received from the target.

[0083] Fig- 3 shows the fluence on the target [kW / cm2] for a hi-power laser as function of lucky condition using the following parameters: turbulence strength (Cn2) of 10'13m'2 / 3measured at Im above the ground, laser output power of 100 kW, exit aperture of 400 mm, beam quality (BPP) of 0.75 mm*mrad, effector height of 5m and a range to the target of 4km at height of 50m.Fig. 4 shows the echo power received [nW] as a function of the lucky condition under turbulence strength (Cn2) of 5 IO-13m-2 / 3measured at Im above ground. This calculation considers an LRF output energy of 2 mJ, a beam quality (BPP) of 2 mm*mrad, a receiver aperture of 50 mm, and a horizontal path at 5 m above ground level with a Nato (2.3x2.3m2) target range of 7 km.

[0084] As mentioned above, during the “lucky” time, the atmosphere minimally affects the quality of images by minimally affecting the wavefront distortion of electromagnetic waves propagating through the atmosphere. The fundamental concept of the present invention's method is the ability to continuously acquire data of a target(s) in the atmosphere, identify fortuitous windows of opportunity in real-time, and transmit and / or receive energy to and / or from a target(s) through the atmosphere. Such invention may be used for various purposes, such as, for example, improving laser range find range, Free-Space Optical (FSO) communication systems, remote sensing, laser weapon and more precise long-range measurements, capturing accurate spectral imagery, or successfully intercept and neutralize detected threats during these windows, which their performance can be significantly enhanced by applying the "Lucky Acting" approach.

[0085] It will be appreciated that the term "acquire data of a target" may also refer to "acquire data about a target" or "acquire data from a target".

[0086] The following section provides more information about the benefits for various applications:

[0087] 1. By leveraging the "Lucky Acting" effect in long-range laser finding, a short laser pulse (typically less than 50 nanoseconds, significantly shorter than the atmospheric time window of tens of milliseconds) can be transmitted toward the target with minimal beam divergence degradation. Similarly, the reflected echo from the target returns to the receiver with only minor distortion. This phenomenon enhances the received energy by more than an order of magnitude under favorable conditions, effectively more than doubling the range finding capability compared to adverse conditions.

[0088] 2. FSO communication transmits data via light waves through free space, such as between buildings or satellites. The performance of FSO systems is highly affected byatmospheric conditions, which can degrade signal strength, clarity, and overall reliability. To maintain high data rates, the system must ensure a high signal-to-noise ratio, requiring both strong signal strength and good signal integrity. However, atmospheric turbulence, which causes beam wandering, increased beam divergence, and scintillation, reduces signal strength and lowers the signal-to-noise ratio. This weakens the system’s ability to maintain a stable connection and decreases the data rate. FSO systems often employ techniques such as adaptive optics, beam steering, and error correction to counteract atmospheric disturbances. Alternatively, using the "Lucky Acting" approach can simplify the system, reduce costs, and dynamically adjust data rates based on real-time atmospheric conditions.

[0089] 3. Remote sensing involves collecting data or information about objects, areas, or phenomena from a distance, typically using satellites, aircraft, or drones. This process captures images or detects radiation (such as light, heat, or radio waves) reflected or emitted from the earth's surface or atmosphere. Good atmospheric conditions are critical for ensuring high-fidelity remote sensing data, making it easier to analyze and make informed decisions. By applying the "Lucky Acting" approach, the best time slot can be identified for data collection, improving signal clarity, enhancing resolution, and ensuring accurate calibration.

[0090] 4. Energy weapons, particularly in the optical range, are highly sensitive to atmospheric conditions. The core principle of such weapons is to focus energy on a target, but atmospheric distortion causes beam wandering and increased divergence, which reduce the energy fluence transmitted towards the target. Lower fluence results in longer engagement times and reduces the effective range of the system. Traditionally, these systems use adaptive optics to correct distortions, adding significant complexity, size, weight, and cost. Implementing the "Lucky Acting" approach can simplify the system, reduce costs, and enhance the system mobility. The method of the present invention is adapted to be used, for example, with pulse lasers instead of continuous wave (CW) lasers, which is the conventional approach today.

[0091] 5. Radar - "Lucky Acting" can conceptually improve radar ranges by mitigating atmospheric distortions and other noise sources that affect signal clarity. While radar systems are generally less impacted by atmospheric turbulence compared to optical systems, they can suffer from phenomena such as multipath interference, clutter, and beam distortion.By employing techniques like "Lucky Acting", radar systems can acquire multiple highspeed radar pulses and selectively analyze the clearest returns based on signal quality metrics. This approach enhances the resolution and accuracy of radar data, enabling better detection of small or distant targets. The process may improve performance ranges by isolating and focusing on the best-quality signals, reducing the impact of environmental noises, and refining target resolution. Consequently, radar systems may achieve greater effective ranges, particularly in cluttered or difficult environments.

[0092] Fig- 5 shows a flowchart 500 of the method, according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0093] In step 510, acquiring data of a target(s) by an acquiring device, e.g., a high-speed camera, typically operating at several hundred to several thousand samples per second, depending on turbulence conditions, wavelength, and range. In an optical system, for example, to effectively acquire data of the target, the acquiring device's optics may match the diameter of the system's transmitting or receiving optics. For instance, in a laser rangefinder with two optical channels, one for transmitting the laser and one for receiving the echo, the acquiring device's optics may be similar to the transmitting channel, which is often the limiting factor due to atmospheric conditions. For optimal performance, the optics aperture should be shared across both channels, meaning a common aperture is ideal.

[0094] In step 520, the acquired data, or at least part of the acquired data, is analyzed, in realtime, and essentially each piece of data, e.g., a captured image, receives a score. At this stage, each piece of data is analyzed and given a score based on its quality, such as, for example, sharpness, which indicates the atmospheric seeing conditions. Various methods for measuring quality may include, for example:

[0095] • Spatial Domain Methods: Laplacian Operator, Variance of the Gradient, Tenengrad Sharpness Metric, Normalized Gray-Level Variance, Edge Detection- Based Methods

[0096] • Spectral Domain Methods: Fourier Transform-Based Sharpness Measurement, High-Frequency Energy-Based Methods, Spectral Entropy, Wavelet TransformSharpness, Power Spectrum Sharpness Metric, Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) Sharpness Metric

[0097] • Learning-Based Methods: Sharpness Convolutional Neural Network (S-CNN), Deep Sharpness Regression (DSR), Sharpness Generative Adversarial Networks (S-GAN), Sharpness Autoencoder (S-AE)

[0098] In step 530, a decision algorithm decides when to operate the system for transmitting or collecting energy. This algorithm should incorporate the predicted future quality score to ensure optimal atmospheric conditions for transmitting or receiving energy to and / or from the target, while also taking into consideration latency and the time required for energy transmission and / or reception. The decision algorithm may use, but is not limited to use, the following methods, for example:

[0099] Statistical Methods: Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA), Single Exponential Smoothing (SES), Holt’s Linear Trend, Holt-Winters Seasonal, Z-Score Thresholding, Quantile-Based Thresholding.

[0100] Learning-Based Methods: Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) Networks, Temporal Convolutional Networks (TCN), Reinforcement Learning (RL), Neural Prophet Thresholding, Dynamic Time Warping with Neural Networks (DWT-NN).

[0101] In step 540, after a "go" decision has been made, transmitting and / or receiving energy to and / or from the target. At this stage, the predicted atmospheric conditions are considered optimal for the operation, ensuring the best possible performance for the specific task. For example, this may result in the strongest echo signal for accurate long-distance ranging, maximum data speed in Free-Space Optical (FSO) communication, the highest resolution and precision in remote sensing, or the maximum energy fluence on target for energy weapons.

[0102] According to embodiments of the present invention, the method may further include another preliminary step, once the target location has been detected or received, of adjusting the direction of the acquiring device, e.g., a high frequency camera, and the energy source, e.g., a short pulse laser. The adjustment may be achieved, for example, by a pan / tilt mechanism or by any other suitable mechanism enabling to direct or adjust the acquiring device and the energy source. Such a mechanism may be used for both the acquiring device and the energy source.According to embodiments of the present invention, the method may further include preliminary scene analysis and learning to enhance the performance of the real-time "Lucky Acting" algorithm. This process leverages machine learning and / or Artificial Intelligence techniques to analyze the observed scene and dynamically adjust algorithm parameters, optimizing performance under varying conditions. By learning patterns from the scene, such as atmospheric turbulence characteristics or target motion behaviors, the system can more effectively identify high-quality frames and prioritize them for processing. This adaptive approach not only improves resolution and clarity but also enhances the system's ability to operate in real-time with increased efficiency and accuracy.

[0103] According to embodiments of the present invention, the method may further include a step of identifying target, for example, by utilizing advanced sensor fusion and machine learning algorithms. These algorithms can analyze data from multiple sources, such as optical, infrared, radar, or hyperspectral imaging systems, to detect specific signatures or anomalies.

[0104] Additionally, the method may incorporate real-time target tracking, ensuring continuous monitoring / capturing / acquiring data of the target's movement and behavior. Tracking can be enhanced by employing predictive analytics and / or Kalman filtering techniques to account for dynamic changes in the target's trajectory, even in challenging environmental conditions.

[0105] It will be appreciated that the method of the present invention is not limited to scoring each piece of acquired data, and at least part of the acquired data may be scored. It will also be appreciated that the method of the present invention is not limited to score the data at all, and the data may be analyzed without scoring.

[0106] Fig- 6 shows an exemplary system 600 which may utilize the method of the present invention, according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0107] The system 600 may include an acquiring device 610, e.g., a high-speed camera, sensors arrays and / or fast detectors (various types, such as: Photodiode Arrays (PDAs), Charge-Coupled Device (CCD), Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS), Infrared Detector (NIR, SWIR, MWIR & LWIR), Avalanche Photodiode (APD), Superconducting Nanowire SinglePhoton Detectors (SNSPDs), Single-Photon Avalanche Diodes (SPAD), Quantum Dots and CMOS Hybrid Arrays, and / or fast detector), with required optics, capable of capturing rapidsequences of frames or signals. Alternatively, the acquiring device may be a radar receiver in different Bands. The acquiring device may record the background and potential targets. For night operations, the system may also include an illuminator (not shown) for enhancing visibility. The illuminator can be a spotlight, laser, laser diodes, or any other light source, with a spectral range extending from deep ultraviolet (DUV) to long-wave infrared (IR). It can operate in either continuous or gated mode; a processing unit 620, using advanced video or signal processing algorithms, as explained above, for example, in conjunction with step 520 of Fig. 5, capable of analyzing acquired data in real-time. The processing unit may predict moments with minimal atmospheric interference, considering different factors. This analysis helps to determine the optimal timing for transmitting energy to the target and / or receiving energy from the target; and an energy receiver and / or provider 630, such as, for example, a ready-to-use LRF for laser firing and echo detection in range finding, active remote sensing systems for energy transmission (such as lasers, laser diodes, QCL, etc.) and reception, passive remote sensing for data collection, an FSO communication device for high-speed data transmission and reception, and an energy weapon for directing and focusing energy toward the target.

[0108] According to embodiments of the present invention, the system may also comprise a pan / tilt unit (not shown) on which both the acquiring device and the energy source and / or the receiving sensors are mounted. This configuration allows for precise positioning and tracking of potential targets in real-time. The pan / tilt unit may enable rapid and accurate adjustments to ensure the acquiring device acquires data of the target and the energy source and / or the receiving sensors can engage it effectively.

[0109] According to embodiments of the present invention, the system may also include a feedback loop to ensure continuous monitor ing / capturing / acquiring data and adaptation. The processing device may provide feedback to the pan / tilt unit to fine-tune the tracking of potential targets. Additionally, the system can incorporate feedback from any external or internal sensor to adjust the timing of laser engagement based on results obtained.

[0110] According to embodiments of the present invention, the system may also include an optical telescope or dedicated lenses. In laser systems, an optical telescope serves a critical function by focusing, directing, and optionally controlling the laser beam, enabling precise targeting by concentrating the beam on a specific point.According to embodiments of the present invention, the system may implement safety measures to prevent unintended targeting or engagement. Such safety measures may include failsafe mechanisms, target validation algorithms, and / or human-in-the-loop capabilities to ensure accuracy and mitigating any potential risks.

[0111] According to embodiments of the present invention, the energy receiver or provider 630 may be a radar or any other energy- emitting or sensing device operating across the full electromagnetic spectrum, which may utilize the method of the present invention to improve objects' detection.

[0112] It will be appreciated that the term "acquiring data" used hereinabove may refer to at least one of the following:

[0113] 1. Monitoring a stationary target.

[0114] 2. Monitoring a moving target.

[0115] 3. Collecting energy returned from a target.

[0116] 4. Capturing images of a target.

[0117] 5. Collecting data related to a target.

[0118] 6. Saving data related to a target.

[0119] It will be appreciated that any part of the acquired data may be analyzed in real time. This acquired data does not necessarily need to be stored and can be deleted immediately after analysis is completed.

[0120] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and includes combinations and sub-combinations of the various features described hereinabove as well as variations and modifications thereof which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method of finding, in real time, an optimal time for transmitting and / or receiving energy to and / or from a target through the atmosphere, comprising:acquiring data of a target in the atmosphere, by an acquiring device; analyzing at least part of said acquired data;deciding when to transmit and / or receive energy based on said analyzing; and transmitting energy to said target and / or receiving energy from said target based on said deciding.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said acquiring device is selected from the group consisting of: a high-speed camera, sensors arrays, radar receiver and / or fast detectors, Photodiode Arrays (PDAs), a Charge-Coupled Device (CCD), a Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS), an Infrared Detector (NIR, SWIR, MWIR & LWIR), an Avalanche Photodiode (APD), Superconducting Nanowire Single-Photon Detectors (SNSPDs), Single-Photon Avalanche Diodes (SPAD), Quantum Dots and CMOS Hybrid Arrays, and a fast detector.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said analyzing comprises scoring at least part of said at least part of said acquired data.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said scoring is performed using at least one of: spatial domain methods, spectral domain methods, and learning-based methods.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said spatial domain methods comprise at least one of: Laplacian operator, variance of a gradient, tenengrad sharpness metric, normalized gray-level variance, and edge detection-based methods.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said spectral domain methods comprise at least one of: Fourier transform-based sharpness measurement, high-frequency energybased methods, spectral entropy, wavelet transform sharpness, power spectrum sharpness metric, and discrete cosine transform sharpness metric.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein said learning-based methods comprise at least one of: Sharpness Convolutional Neural Network (S-CNN), Deep Sharpness Regression (DSR), Sharpness Generative Adversarial Networks (S-GAN), and Sharpness Autoencoder (S-AE).

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said decision when to transmit and / or receive energy is taken by a decision algorithm predicting future quality score to ensure optimal atmospheric conditions.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said decision algorithm uses at least one of: statistical methods, and learning-based methods.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said statistical methods comprise at least one of:Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA), Single Exponential Smoothing (SES), Holt’s Linear Trend (HLT), Holt-Winters Seasonal (HWS), Z- Score Thresholding (ZST), and Quantile-Based Thresholding (QBT).

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said learning-based methods comprise at least one of: Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks, Temporal Convolutional Networks (TCN), Reinforcement Learning (RL), Neural Prophet Thresholding (NPT), Dynamic Time Warping with Neural Networks (DWT-NN).

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to acquiring data of a target in the atmosphere, detecting a target and / or receiving a target location.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting direction of said acquiring device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said adjusting is performed using a pan / tilt mechanism.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising real-time tracking thereby ensuring continuous monitoring of said target.

16. A system for finding, in real time, an optimal time for transmitting and / or receiving energy to and / or from a target through the atmosphere, comprising:an acquiring device configured to acquire data of a target in the atmosphere; a processing unit configured to analyze at least part of said acquired data in real-time;a decision algorithm configured to decide when to transmit and / or receive energy; andat least one of: an energy receiver configured to receive energy from said target, and an energy provider configured to transmit energy to said target.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said acquiring device comprises at least one of: a high-speed camera, sensors arrays, radar receiver and / or fast detectors, Photodiode Arrays (PDAs), a Charge-Coupled Device (CCD), a Complementary Metal-Oxide- Semiconductor (CMOS), an Infrared Detector (NIR, SWIR, MWIR & LWIR), an Avalanche Photodiode (APD), Superconducting Nanowire Single-Photon Detectors (SNSPDs), Single-Photon Avalanche Diodes (SPAD), Quantum Dots and CMOS Hybrid Arrays, and a fast detector.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein said processing unit is further configured to score at least part of said at least part of said acquired data.

19. The system of claim 16, further comprising an illuminator configured to enhance visibility.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said illuminator is selected from the group consisting of: a spotlight, a laser, laser diodes, and a light source.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein said at least one of an energy receiver, and an energy provider is selected from the group consisting of: a ready -to-use Laser Range Finder (LRF), lasers, laser diodes, a Quantum-cascade Laser (QCL), a radar, an FSO communication device for high-speed data transmission and reception, and an energy weapon.

22. The system of claim 16, further comprising a pan / tilt mechanism configured to enable precise positioning and tracking of said target in real-time.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising a feedback loop configured to ensure continuous monitoring, and adaptation of said pan / tilt mechanism.

24. The system of claim 16, further comprising an optical telescope or dedicated lenses configured to enable at least one of: focusing, directing, and controlling a laser beam.

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