Enhanced Propeller Visibility

The Navy has identified a requirement for enhancing propeller visibility for personnel safety on carrier-based aircraft such as the E-2C and C-2A aircraft under nighttime or inclement weather conditions. After careful consideration QTSI has developed anapproach based on using scanning laser diodes to paint an image on the rotating propeller. Such a device would be low cost, lightweight and low power. Placement of the device could be mounted either on the aircraft on the carrier deck, or in some removebefore flight equipment such as wheel chocks. We believe such a design can be implemented cheaply and with a minimum of modification to the aircraft. Clearly this sensor has significant commercial applications. Commercial commuter aircraft have the sameissues regarding propeller safety as military aircraft, and the number of small 2 and 4 engine propeller driven commuter aircraft has exploded over the last ten years. We would expect the opportunity to refit all propeller driven military aircraft over aperiod of time, plus incorporate the scanners in all new production aircraft for the civilian market.