- 15 June 2005 -

Sensor fuses radar with IR and opto

BAE Systems has developed a multi-sensor autonomous approach landing capability (AALC) for air mobility platforms that increases aircrew situational awareness in low- and no-visibility conditions.

The BAE Systems AALC solution fuses millimeter-wave radar and an optical sensor - either infrared or low-light television - processing those inputs to render the best available image on a head-up, head down, or helmet-mounted display.

The system, draws on BAE Systems' pioneering technology in the weather-penetrating capabilities of the 94-GHz imaging radar technology, and is designed to permit aircraft landings in zero-ceiling/zero-visibility conditions such as fog, dust, smoke, snow, and rain.

It provides visual situational awareness of the runway environment, enhances obstacle avoidance, and minimises pilot spatial disorientation caused by lack of visual perspective.

AALC is fully autonomous, placing all sensors aboard the aircraft with no need for ground-based landing aids - significantly improving flexibility in mission planning and execution.

"Our solution offers a multi-spectral sensor approach that, when combined with flight symbology for aircraft control, provides our fighting forces unprecedented operational capability," said Dutch Neilson, director of BAE Systems' Advanced Systems integrated product team.

In 2004, the US Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) awarded BAE Systems a contract to provide a platform-independent, integrated systems solution to meet Air Mobility Command autonomous approach landing requirements for the Defense Transportation System.

Under that contract, BAE Systems is supplying an integrated system comprising a 94-GHz imaging radar fused with optical sensors, new digital light engine head up displays, and a multi-spectral radome. The company currently is performing the systems integration phase of the 2004 AFRL contract.