Finding small objects at sea remains a challenge for maritime search helicopters. Radar is traditionally size, weight and power dependent. The smaller the object of interest, the larger the radar required to find it. The size and cost is often prohibitive. Even in challenging sea states the search for small objects is still conducted visually. If you are lost at sea at night, your chance of being found drops significantly due to the reliance on narrow field of view (soda-straw) infra-red sensors.
The Autonomous Day/Night SAR Sensor provides a transformative capability for small object search from helicopters.
Easily installed, and a fraction of the size weight and power of a traditional radar, HeliSAR uses a specially configured array of day and night optical sensors that continuously observe the ocean either side of the helicopter.
Everything on the ocean’s surface is autonomously detected in under a second, presenting aircraft operators with a small image of each object found alongside its location coordinate on a map. Detection to identification is completed in seconds.
HeliSAR comes with all components pre-integrated as a drop-in to replacement for the Helicopters lower vertical cockpit windows. HeliSAR's small form factor and innovative design ensures that any visual obstruction is minimal and unobtrusive.
