Good things can come in small packages, such as a three-dimensional scanning ladar, says General Dynamics Robotic Systems (booth 2011).

GDRS has introduced what it says is the smallest 3D scanning ladar, one that fits in a palm or can be hidden on a vehicle. Insurgents often target scanning ladars, said GDRS Project Manager Bill Borgia, because they're usually large and situated on the tops of vehicles. The new GDRS micro ladar can be hidden in a headlight or other locations.

"This is the right form factor for a small UGV [unmanned ground vehicle] it also performs the same on a large UGV," Borgia says.

The system will be ready for the market in March 2011, he says, and Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command is the launch customer. The company is working on some of the final specifications, but the system will weigh 500g and measure 82x82x103mm.

Source: Flight Daily News