Laser obstacle avoidance could come to smaller helicopters | Aviation International News

Laser obstacle avoidance could come to smaller helicopters

A laser obstacle-avoidance system now entering service on military helicopters might prove useful for civil applications.

By Thierry Dubois • Writer

December 8, 2006

A laser obstacle-avoidance system now entering service on military helicopters might prove useful for civil applications. Selex Communications’ laser obstacle avoidance and monitoring system (LOAM), installed on six AgustaWestland search-and-rescue EH-101s for the Danish Air Force, is said to be suitable for light singles as well.
The LOAM uses an eye-safe laser to periodically scan the area around the flight path and the system analyzes the returned echo pattern to identify possible obstacles and provide the crew with information and warnings.

The LOAM can detect wires with a diameter as small as 5 mm. “In fact, we could detect even smaller diameters, but, a wire [less than five millimeters] can be cut [by cable-cutting passive devices],” Luca Taverni, navigation and optoelectronic system engineer at Pomezia, Italy-based Selex, told AIN.

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