Missile-borne linear array LiDAR simulator for short-range target detection in dynamic rendezvous scenarios

To address the lack of missile-borne linear array (MLA) LiDAR data in dynamic rendezvous scenarios, this paper proposes an MLA LiDAR simulator for short-range target detection, which combines physical models with a three-dimensional virtual environment to achieve high-fidelity point cloud simulation. To formulate a more accurate model for complex target responses, the received power equation is improved by incorporating the bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF), and the target laser reflection characteristics are quantified using the fitted six-parameter BRDF model. Based on the geometric imaging mechanism of MLA LiDAR in a dynamic missile-target rendezvous process, a dynamic imaging model is established and coupled with the laser power model. The proposed simulator is implemented within the Unity engine, enabling efficient model-driven and synthetic data generation through realistic interactions among three-dimensional virtual scene elements. Extensive performance evaluation experiments were conducted to verify the effectiveness of the simulator. The results demonstrate a high degree of similarity between the simulated and measured point clouds, proving the capability of the simulator to serve as a reliable data source for the design and testing of intelligent perception algorithms.