LOAM LASER OBSTACLE AVOIDANCE SYSTEM

LOAM LASER OBSTACLE AVOIDANCE SYSTEM
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LOAM
LASER OBSTACLE AVOIDANCE SYSTEM
DESCRIPTION
The LOAM is a state-of-the-art “navigational aid system”
for rotary wing platforms specifically designed to detect
potentially dangerous obstacles placed in or nearby the
flight path and to warn the crew in sufficient time to
implement effective avoiding maneuvers.
The LOAM works on the “laser radar” principle using an
eye-safe laser. A laser beam periodically scans the area
around the flight path and on the basis of the returned echo
analysis, using an innovative software algorithm, it identifies
possible obstacles and provides the crew with the relevant
information and warnings.
As opposed to radar, the use of a laser beam, instead of an
RF emission, for the scan offers the following, remarkable
advantages:
> achievement of sufficient return power even for obstacles
with non-perpendicular incidence;
> use of a very narrow scan beam leading to a high
resolution system.
The LOAM is capable of classifying the following classes of
obstacle:
> Wire. Thin obstacles such as, telephone cables, electrical
cables (up to 5 mm diameter whether electrified or not).
> Tree. Vertical obstacles such as, trees, poles and pylons.
> Structure. Extended obstacles such as, bridges,
buildings and hills.
Obstacle detection is achieved by the following, sequential,
functional processes: laser scan, echo detection and
detected echo analysis.
The LOAM periodically scans with a laser beam the area
around the flight path within the system’s field of view.
The LOAM performs echo detection through an analogue
process comprising optical-electrical conversion, signal
pre-amplification and threshold comparison. The signal
pre-amplification is achieved by an automatic gain
controlled amplifier that increases system sensitivity as the
elapsed time from the laser emission
increases to allow for lower return signal power from more
distant obstacles. Furthermore, the threshold level may be
adjusted to compensate for background conditions. All the
above leads to:
> Elimination of the probability of false echo detection due
to atmospheric back-scatter near the laser beam output;
> Optimisation of system sensitivity for every operational
atmospheric condition.
The LOAM performs echo analysis to determine the
presence of possible obstacles and to determine their
geometrical characteristics and position. To do this,
the LOAM employs two sequential analysis processes:
1. local analysis;
2. global analysis.
The “local analysis” process analyses the single echoes in
order to determine range, angular co-ordinates and characteristics
of the obstacle portion generating them.

LOAM LASER OBSTACLE AVOIDANCE SYSTEM
LOAM
Laser Obstacle Avoidance System
MAIN FEATURES
> Employs an eye-safe laser
> Identifies and classifies dangerous obstacles
> High angular and range resolution
> Uses on-board or own display
> Very low false alarm rate
> Activates audio warning
> Communicates with other systems

LOAM LASER OBSTACLE AVOIDANCE SYSTEM
TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
General characteristics
Horizontal FOV 40°
Vertical FOV 30°
FOV Steering
Max. Detection Range
Min. Detection Range
± 20° both in horizontal and in vertical
2000 m
50 m
Obstacle Detection Probability > 99.5 %
False Alarm Rate
< 1 per 2 hours
Qualified according to
MIL STD 810E and MIL STD 461C
Electrical Interface
EIA RS422 and MIL-STD-1553B
Power Supply +28 VDC, < 300 W (MIL STD 704E)
Eye-safe laser according to STANAG 3606 LAS class I
Sensor head unit
Dimension
Weight
320 x 239 x 419 mm
24 kg
Control panel unit
Dimension
Weight
146 x 38,1 x 155 mm
0.5 kg
Warning unit
Dimension
Weight
110.2 x 25.4 x 75 mm
0.35 kg
Display unit
Dimensions
Weight
4 x 5 ATI
1,7 kg

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