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.
Benefit: The TerraBlocks Clear-to-Land/MultiView system offers a significant advancement in LADAR-based terrain/obstacle model generation, terrain analysis capability and synthetic vision (SV) flight display functionality. The approach quickly and efficiently converts high-volume LADAR point cloud data to a compact, analyzable, distributable and displayable form. TerraBlocks Clear-to-Land/MultiView is especially suited for military rotorcraft and rotorcraft formation landings in conditions where the landing zone can produce a brown-out condition or similar low-visibility conditions. Commercial markets requiring the proposed system include rotorcraft applications of emergency response, and search and rescue uses requiring quick mission response and temporally accurate modeling of terrain and obstacle features.
Keywords: multi-ship formation, multi-ship formation, Situational Awareness, Brown-Out Landing, Rotorcraft, Laser Ranging, LADAR, 3D Terrain Generation, Synthetic Vision
