IGF::OT::IGF ASC HAS DEVELOPED NON-SCANNING 3D FLASH LIDARTM IMAGERS FOR UAS SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND AUTO…

Public award description

IGF::OT::IGF ASC HAS DEVELOPED NON-SCANNING 3D FLASH LIDARTM IMAGERS FOR UAS SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND AUTONOMOUS LANDING. THIS SENSING TECHNOLOGY IS THE MOST ADVANCED LIDAR TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE FOR UAV GUIDANCE AND LANDING SITE DETERMINATION. ASC'S ARRAY TECHNOLOGY HAS ALLOWED FOR COMPACT LIDAR CAMERAS THAT COLLECT FULL FRAME 3D POINT CLOUDS IN A SINGLE FLASH (FLASH LIDAR). THE 3D DAYS WILL IMPROVE THE MOBILITY, EFFICIENCY AND SAFETY OF AIR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS. ASC'S FLASH LIDAR IS THE LIDAR IN THE AUTONOMOUS LANDING AND HAZARD AVOIDANCE TECHNOLOGY (ALHAT) FOR MORPHEUS. THE 3D FLASH LIDAR CAPTURED THE 3D DATA USED IN LANDING SITE SELECTION AND HAZARD AVOIDANCE DURING THE MORPHEUS AUTONOMOUS LANDING DEMONSTRATIONS. ASC WILL USE A MINIATURIZED VERSION, OF THE CORE 3D FLASH LIDAR TECHNOLOGY USED FOR ALHAT, TO DEVELOP AN AUTONOMOUS LANDING AND HAZARD AVOIDANCE SENSOR FOR UAVS OPERATING IN NATIONAL AIRSPACE. THE SENSOR WILL BE CAPABLE OF A NUMBER OF AUTONOMOUS NAVIGATION FUNCTIONS, BUT THE PHASE I EFFORT WILL FOCUS ON DEMONSTRATING UNIQUE FUNCTIONS OF THE SENSOR. THE FIRST DEMONSTRATION WILL ADDRESS SAFE UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE (UAV) OPERATION IN THE FIRST AND LAST 50 FT UNDER DIVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS.