Design and Tests of A Cable Detection Laser Imaging Radar System

Rotorcraft in low-level flight is endangered by power lines or telephone wires. The development of automation tools that can detect obstacles in the flight path and warn the crew would significantly reduce pilot workload and increase safety. Therefore, a cable detection radar system is developed. The real-time dynamic imaging synchronizing with radar space scanning has been implemented in developed ladar system. The requirements of the flight mission to prevent wire strike are analyzed and estimated, the advantages and disadvantages of the millimeter wave system with the laser system are weighted. The result shows that Laser system is the best suited for helicopter avoidance obstacle. In addition, several design gist of detecting wire radar that was used in the developed ladar system is proposed and the developed zero backlash imaging technology and several advanced warning function are described. The detailed results of system ground tests and the performances description are presented. The ground test of the developed ladar system has demonstrated that the developed imaging ladar system performance can achieve and satisfy the requirements of the mission to prevent wire strike.