Dynamic LADAR Terrain Generation System for Multi-ship Rotorcraft Brown-out Landings

TerraMetrics, Inc., proposes to demonstrate a key architecture and processing methodology that provides a direct solution for multi-aircraft formation helicopter landings in blinding brown-out conditions. The proposed innovation offers a synthetic vision implementation that self-generates, shares and displays a compact landing zone 3D terrain/obstacle model, and multi-aircraft approach and landing routes using lead-aircraft Laser Detection and Ranging (LADAR) sensor data, and formation aircraft location and motion vector data. Our approach, referred to as TerraBlocks™ Clear-to-Land™/MultiView, builds on our TerraBlocks™ Clear-to-Land™ self-generating dynamic 3D terrain model technology coupled with our TerraBlocks™ synthetic vision (SV) rendering and display engine. The focus is our cloud-to-surface methodology for propagating voluminous LADAR point cloud data into a compact, multi-resolution, real-time-displayable parametric heightfield surface model representation where ground and airborne obstacles are clearly displayed as “no-fly” volume features. The approach improves wire feature discrimination and retention against ground and primary features. Once received by each aircraft in the formation, the terrain/obstacle model and computed route plans, coupled with the continuous position and motion vector data from each aircraft, is displayed using the TerraBlocks™ SV system throughout the formation approach and landing maneuvers, providing all pilots with a robust situational awareness instrument for brown-out landings.