BELL HELICOPTER Textron is preparing to flight-test an obstacle detecting laser radar developed by Orlando, Florida-based Schwartz Electro-Optics (SEO). The Scanning Helicopter Interference Envelope Laser Detector (SHIELD) provides lower-hemisphere protection at low speed and while hovering in confined or hazardous areas, SEO says.
The radar can detect wires as small as 10mm diameter within a 60m (200ft)-radius hemisphere below the helicopter, which it scans once a second, measuring obstacle location with a range accuracy better than 0.3m and an angular accuracy better than 1°, says SEO.
Obstacles, including terrain below the helicopter, are displayed on a colour monitor in the form of a three-dimensional image of the aircraft's surroundings. The system computer can provide both aural and visual warnings of obstacles at a selected distance from the helicopter.
The SHIELD was developed under US Army contract and a prototype system will be supplied to the service for flight-testing on a Bell UH-1. Bell, meanwhile, will flight-test a pre-production commercial system on a Model 412, beginning in April. SEO plans to begin selling the SHIELD in June, priced at $50,000- $100,000.
Bell is looking at offering the system as a factory option and has offered to work with SEO on certification of the initial low-speed/ hover sensor. A higher-power laser is being developed for a forward-looking version of the SHIELD which would be able to detect power lines at a range of more than 1km (0.5nm), SEO says.
Source: Flight International
