Wide FOV and Fast Active Optical Detection System

In this SBIR program, we propose to develop a wide angle and fast optical detection system for measuring the slung load cable angle and angular rate in real time, which is necessary to stabilize the external loads in heavy-lift vertical resupply operations by fleet helicopters or unmanned helicopters. This development efforts leverage Agiltron’s extensive experiences in developing the variety of imaging based photonic sensing technologies. This proposed system is based on active sensing architecture using eye safe NIR laser and CCD or CMOS image sensor. The new system will have the superior performances, including a very large measurement angle, a high speed tracking and data updating rate, and high angle resolution. This system is robust and very effective even in degraded visual conditions or turbulent atmospheric conditions. The Phase I approach will predict the advanced performances in the proposed system, and demonstrate the advanced functionality experimentally in the laboratory environments. The phase II development will make the prototype of this advanced system for field evaluation.