Miniature Flash LIDAR for Helicopter UAV Obstacle Field Navigation and Landing Site Selection in Complex Urban Environments

There is a great need for the ability to quickly acquire 3D coordinate and image data in real-time for many applications. Current technologies such as 3D scanners or flash LADAR have limitations that have prevented cost-effective solutions, particularly for robotic and UAV applications where cost, size, and power draws are significant factors. As part of this SBIR Phase I, TetraVue will demonstrate a new high resolution camera technology that can achieve meter-class range resolution at distances up to 200 m and 10 cm-class range resolution at 30 m distance. This system will provide this performance over a 90 degree FOV with imagery and coordinate measurements, using a low cost, 640 x 512 sensor array. TetraVue’s technology provides a straightforward path to a high resolution, lightweight, low cost solution for use in 3D terrain mapping for autonomous rotorcraft.