AeroVision II = Enhanced Airborne Vision Sensor

该概念验证（“PoC”）项目是我们的市场验证（“PoM”）项目700092的后续，在该项目中，我们研究并确认了该传感器的市场。在该技术演示项目中，我们打算证明一种创新方法的有效性，用于实时机载物体碰撞检测。我们正在开发无人驾驶飞机（“UA”），用于世界各地的科学（冰层厚度监测），商业（石油和矿产勘探）和国家（边境巡逻）应用。使用超视距无人驾驶（“BLOS”）最大的技术挑战是碰撞检测传感器的部署。这是在过去四年的每一次UA会议上提出的基本要求。这也是我们潜在的UA客户的需求，包括Fugro机载测量和SanderGeophysics（机载地球物理测量），石油和天然气勘探公司，如挪威国家石油公司和壳牌公司，以及政府机构，如DSTL。我们建议开发和表征一个原型机载碰撞检测传感器，基于使用两个同步相机作为一个立体成像对，以模仿人类的视觉。我们计划为立体视觉技术引入额外的创新增强功能，包括偏振敏感图像，该技术有可能穿透一定程度的云层。我们将用声学探测器阵列来增强探测能力。我们的目标是将这种传感器部署在飞行BLOS的UA上，以探测空中物体，如其他飞机、气球和伞兵。英国民航局（Civil Aviation Authority）的克里夫·惠特克（Cliff Whittaker）建议，一旦得到证实，这种传感器可以在轻型飞机上得到更广泛的应用，从而有助于航空旅行的安全，并使我们能够在英国这一领域建立世界领先的出口业务。另一个好处是环保，因为UA比有人驾驶的同行使用更少的燃料公里。

This Proof of Concept (“PoC”) project is a follow on from our Proof of Market ("PoM")project 700092, in which we studied and confirmed the market for this sensor. In thistechnology demonstration project, we intend to prove the effectiveness of an innovativeapproach to airborne object collision detection, in real time.We are developing unmanned aircraft ("UA") for use throughout the world in scientific (icethickness monitoring), commercial (oil and mineral exploration) and state (border patrol)applications. The greatest technical challenge to the use of UA operating beyond line of sight("BLOS") is the deployment of a collision detection sensor. This is an essential requirementthat has been voiced at every UA conference for the last four years. It has also been arequirement of our potential UA customers, including Fugro Airborne Surveys and SanderGeophysics (airborne geophysical surveys), oil and gas exploration companies, such as Statoiland Shell and Government bodies, such as DSTL.We propose to develop and characterise a prototype airborne collision detection sensor, basedon the use of two synchronised cameras operating as a stereo imaging pair, to mimic humanvision. We plan to introduce additional innovative enhancements to the stereo visiontechnology with polarisation sensitive imagery, which has the potential to see through somelevel of cloud cover. We will augment the detection capability with an acoustic detector array.Our aim is to deploy this sensor on UA that fly BLOS, to detect airborne objects, such asother aircraft, balloons and parachutists. Once proven, it was suggested by Cliff Whittaker atthe Civil Aviation Authority, this sensor could find wider application on light aircraft, socontributing to the safety of air travel and enabling us to build up a world leading exportbusiness in this area in the U.K. Another benefit will be environmental, since UA use less fuelper km flown than their manned counterparts.