Visual Radar, Year 1

The key objectives will be to develop collaborative stereo technology for robust passive (vision-based) terrain relative navigation based on two non static cameras, install non-static stereo system on wing tips of an airplane for low altitude terrain following, analyze and verify sensor characteristics to quantify impacts of high speed motion on reconstruction results, and conduct tests of technology with surrogate UAV testbeds and fixed win aircraft. The key innovations will be: a) A wide-baseline 3D reconstruction system capable of providing instantaneous 3D information for TRN and collision avoidance in non-static scenes. b) A passive ranging system that leaves no signature at the target. c) A system that will enable tracking of movers on the ground and in the air.

There is a current aircraft/spacecraft need for robust collision avoidance for navigation in close proximity to terrain (low altitude flight, small body navigation). A 3D ranging system needs to tolerate a non-static environment and power and weight restrictions demand a light-weight sensor system. The current state-of-the-art consists of ranging methods that while tolerant of non-static environments, require active sensing with heavy, power-hungry sensors and existing camera based systems that require static environments and a calibrated (fixed) camera setup.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 5) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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