Airborne lidar wind detection at 2 um

Russell Targ; James G. Hawley; Bruce Charles Steakley; Lawrence L. Ames; Paul A. Robinson

doi:10.1117/12.211482

12 June 1995 Airborne lidar wind detection at 2 μm

Russell Targ, James G. Hawley, Bruce Charles Steakley, Lawrence L. Ames, Paul A. Robinson

Proceedings Volume 2464, Air Traffic Control Technologies; (1995) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.211482
Event: SPIE's 1995 Symposium on OE/Aerospace Sensing and Dual Use Photonics, 1995, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

NASA and the FAA have expressed interest in laser radar's capabilities to detect wind profiles at altitude. A number of programs have been addressing the technical feasibility and utility of laser radar atmospheric backscatter data to determine wind profiles and wind hazards for aircraft guidance and navigation. In addition, the U.S. Air Force is investigating the use of airborne lidar to achieve precision air drop capability, and to increase the accuracy of the AC- 130 gunship and the B-52 bomber by measuring the wind field from the aircraft to the ground. There are emerging capabilities of airborne laser radar to measure wind velocities and detect turbulence and other atmospheric disturbances out in front of an aircraft in real time. The measurement of these parameters can significantly increase fuel efficiency, flight safety, airframe lifetime, and terminal area capacity for new and existing aircraft. This is achieved through wind velocity detection, turbulence avoidance, active control utilization to alleviate gust loading, and detection of wingtip wake vortices produced by landing aircraft. This paper presents the first flight test results of an all solid-state 2-micrometers laser radar system measuring the wind field profile 1 to 2 km in front of an aircraft in real time. We find 0.7-m/s wind measurement accuracy for the system which is configured in a rugged, light weight, high- performance ARINC package.

Citation Download Citation

Russell Targ, James G. Hawley, Bruce Charles Steakley, Lawrence L. Ames, and Paul A. Robinson "Airborne lidar wind detection at 2 μm", Proc. SPIE 2464, Air Traffic Control Technologies, (12 June 1995); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.211482

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