TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Information Systems, Sensors

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMA-261 - CH-53K Heavy Lift Helicopter, ACAT I

OBJECTIVE: Develop data management technologies to assist multi-ship helicopter landings in areas where severe dust is expected from rotor downwash (ie. brown-out). In particular, the system should allow trailing aircraft to land in completely blind conditions created by the lead aircraft.

DESCRIPTION: The concept of operations assumes that the lead aircraft is equipped with a laser capable of making high resolution, precision, three dimensional (3D) measurements of the landing zone. The lead aircraft will typically collect the data during approach to landing. On some missions, such as a rescue, the lead aircraft may first over-fly the objective area, scan straight-down, and circle back for the approach. An on-board processor then filters and converts the large amount of 3D point-cloud data into a relatively small terrain/obstacle elevation database. Any experience in converting point-cloud data into terrain elevation grids should be included in proposals.

The processor that computed the terrain elevation database also works out a desired ground track, altitude profile for the ground track, and time schedule for each aircraft in the formation. This information is then transmitted to each aircraft in formation. Each aircraft in formation also transmits its own location, horizontal velocity (vector) and horizontal acceleration (vector) to every other aircraft. Each pilot in formation then has all the necessary information on a display to do completely blind, formation landings. The design of the display is part of this SBIR contract effort.

The bulk of this effort is expected to be in developing innovative data management technologies to process the laser point cloud data into a terrain elevation database. In particular, the data must be filtered to remove bad points including any hits from dust particles. In order to detect wires (which have a small percentage of laser hits on the wire and a large percentage of near-misses which hit the terrain below the wires), new and innovative filtering methods may need to be developed. Any experience in filtering laser data should be included in proposals.

PHASE I: Demonstrate proof of concept of proposed data management technologies to assist multiple-ship helicopter landings. Determine the feasibility of developing an algorithm to convert laser point cloud data into a terrain elevation database, including filtering out bad samples and enhancing the detection of wires. The algorithm should also transmit the data to a remote computer processor efficiently. The government will provide laser data, sampled near horizontally, as GFI during Phase I.

PHASE II: Develop a prototype system consisting of a laser sensor, data processing algorithm, and display. Demonstrate that the data processing algorithm has the capability to eliminate bad samples from dust particles, and can detect terrain, towers, and wires. In order to reduce costs, the laser sensor for this prototype may be less capable than that required for operational use (sample rates, ranges, etc.). Develop sample flight algorithms/planning routes for multi-ship helicopter landings.

PHASE III: Integrate the processing algorithm and associated terrain elevation data base with an existing laser sensor and associated display found on a military helicopter. Develop flight algorithms/ planning routes for multi-ship helicopter landings. Test the system under brownout conditions at an available test range.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: On the commercial side, Emergency Medical Services helicopters can over-fly and scan landing sites before landing, reducing accidents due to collision with wires and poles. Aerial mapping services can use this system to map wires and towers over non-hostile areas, and sell databases of obstacles.

REFERENCES:
1. Kayton M., Fried W., "Avionics Navigation Systems" 2nd Ed., John Wiley and Sons Inc., 1997.

2. Graham R., Koh A., "Digital Aerial Survey Theory and Practice", Whittles Press., 2002.

3. Johnson A., Pettersson C., "Geographic Information Systems and Mapping / Practices and Standards, ASTM, 1992.

4. Bossler J., Jensen J., McMaster R., Rizos C., "Manual of Geospatial Science and Technology", CRC Press., 2002.

5. Bartlett D., Smith J., "GIS for Coastal Zone Management" CRC Press, 2004.

6. Jacobs G., "High Definition Surveying – 3D Laser Scanning: What kind of projects benefit most", Professional Surveyor, Vol. 24., No. 8, August 2004.

7. Satyaprakash, "Laser Scanners in Terrestrial Surveying", The Global Geospatial Magazine, Sept. 2007.

KEYWORDS: Brownout; Degraded Visual Environments; Ladar; 3D Database; Situation Awareness; Rotorcraft.

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** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

DoD Notice:   Between April 21 and May 18, 2008, you may talk directly with the Topic Author(s) to ask technical questions about the topics. Their contact information is listed above. For reasons of competitive fairness, direct communication between proposers and topic authors is not allowed starting May 19, 2008, when DoD begins accepting proposals for this solicitation.

However, proposers may still submit written questions about solicitation topics through the DoD's SBIR/STTR Interactive Topic Information System (SITIS), in which the questioner and respondent remain anonymous and all questions and answers are posted electronically for general viewing until the solicitation closes. All proposers are advised to monitor SITIS (08.2 Q&A) during the solicitation period for questions and answers, and other significant information, relevant to the SBIR 08.1 topic under which they are proposing.

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