Optically-Aided Safety Enhancement System (OASES): Collision Detection for MQ-8 Fire Scout

The Optically-Aided Safety Enhancement System (OASES) project develops core technologies for an Optical Collision Detection/Operator Situational Awareness System applicable to the MQ-8C Fire Scout VTUAV and other Class 4 UAVs. OASES integrates a Wide-Field-of-View (WFOV) uncooled long-wave infra-red (LWIR) camera array for search-detect-track functionality with a micro-gimbal plus zoom Narrow-Field-of-View (NFOV) camera for collision threat interrogation / evaluation. A rugged embedded computer hosts the SAFESEE image processing software. Targets detected by the WFOV camera array are developed into tracks by the SAFESEE software. Each track is formatted as J-series messages (as defined in MIL-STD-6016 series) which can be passed to external systems, and can be internally interrogated for collision threat evaluation. The collision threat evaluation for each track is passed to external systems. The OASES project includes a data collection system that allows in-flight imagery of cooperative collision-target aircraft to be collected for a variety of potential near mid-air collision scenarios. The data collection system is integrated onto a commercial Robinson R44 helicopter and includes a high precision GPS/INS navigation system to record aircraft position, velocity, and attitude (PVA) for “ground truth” data. The in-flight data collected can be replayed through the rugged embedded computer to test the SAFESEE software.