Phoenix Aerial Systems, a manufacturer of unmanned aerial platforms, has developed and demonstrated what it says is the world’s smallest and lightest UAV Lidar platform. Weighing less than 10kg, the new Lidar platform called the Phoenix AL-2 combines the latest UAV, Lidar and GNSS technology into an accurate and safe micro-mapping solution.
At the core of the Phoenix AL-2 is the Velodyne HDL-32E sensor, which features up to 32 lasers aligned over a 40º vertical field of view, and generates 700,000 distance points per second. The HDL-32E rotates 360º up to 20 times per second and provides measurement and intensity information over a range of 1 metre to 100 metres, with a typical accuracy of better than +/- 2cm. The Phoenix AL-2 delivers a real-time, high-definition 3D point cloud for speedy mapping of difficult-to-reach areas without the expense of hiring a commercial plane.
The Phoenix AL-2 will be on display at the Velodyne booth at the AUVSI show from 12–15 August at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington DC, USA.
The Phoenix AL-2 is expected to be commercially available by Q4 2013. For more information about Phoenix Aerial Lidar you are invited to visit the company website. Click here for a direct link to the Proof of Concept video.
Information regarding Velodyne’s compact and light-weight HDL-32 Lidar sensor can be found here.
Source: GIM International
