Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the determination of a plurality of distinct echo pulses originating from the same emitted signal train of an active 3D sensor in order to provide distance measurements of the surroundings in front of the 3D sensor, whereas the signal train received by the 3D sensor is subjected to a predefined trigger condition, so that only those peaks of the signal train that fulfill the predefined trigger condition are taken into account in the determination of the distinct echo pulses, According to the invention for the determination of the distinct echo pulses, at least two different trigger conditions are applied simultaneously.

Abstract: A method for processing echo pulses of an active 3D sensor to provide distance measurements of surroundings in front of the active 3D sensor includes defining a near range distance from the active 3D sensor and defining a last echo distance from the active 3D sensor greater than said defined near range distance. The method includes receiving a sequence of echo pulses of a signal emitted by the active 3D sensor and subjecting the sequence of echo pulses to a pre-defined trigger condition such that only those echo pulses are taken into consideration which fulfill the predefined trigger condition. The method also includes determining, from the echo pulses which fulfill the predefined trigger condition and that are received from distances greater than a defined near range distance, a first echo pulse and an adaptive echo pulse, and providing distance measurements of the surroundings in front of the 3D sensor using the determined first echo pulse and the determined adaptive echo pulse.

Abstract: A method of processing 3D sensor data to provide terrain segmentation involves processing the 3D data so as to analyze the positions of sets returns from the terrain in the horizontal plane. Returns from an idealized flat terrain form a series of scanlines in the horizontal plane. A return having a significant displacement in the horizontal plane in comparison to other returns in the same scan line is classified as a non-ground return corresponding to an elevated object.

Abstract: A method for assessing a ground area for suitability as a landing zone or taxi area for aircraft is provided. Three-dimensional data for the ground area in a plurality of measurement cycles in a 3D sensor is produced. The measured-value density of the three-dimensional data and also of at least one further statistical property of the three-dimensional data is determined. A measure of the local roughness of the ground area is produced based on the measured-value density and the at least one further statistical property. The individual area elements of the ground area are classified on the basis of the roughness values produced according to the degree of suitability of said area elements as a landing area or taxi area.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the determination of a plurality of distinct echo pulses originating from the same emitted signal train of an active 3D sensor in order to provide distance measurements of the surroundings in front of the 3D sensor, whereas the signal train received by the 3D sensor is subjected to a predefined trigger condition, so that only those peaks of the signal train that fulfill the predefined trigger condition are taken into account in the determination of the distinct echo pulses, According to the invention for the determination of the distinct echo pulses, at least two different trigger conditions are applied simultaneously.

Abstract: A method for processing echo pulses of an active 3D sensor to provide distance measurements of surroundings in front of the active 3D sensor includes defining a near range distance from the active 3D sensor and defining a last echo distance from the active 3D sensor greater than said defined near range distance. The method includes receiving a sequence of echo pulses of a signal emitted by the active 3D sensor and subjecting the sequence of echo pulses to a pre-defined trigger condition such that only those echo pulses are taken into consideration which fulfill the predefined trigger condition. The method also includes determining, from the echo pulses which fulfill the predefined trigger condition and that are received from distances greater than a defined near range distance, a first echo pulse and an adaptive echo pulse, and providing distance measurements of the surroundings in front of the 3D sensor using the determined first echo pulse and the determined adaptive echo pulse.

Abstract: A method for segmenting the data of a 3D sensor produced in the presence of aerosol clouds and for increasing the situation awareness and the location detection of obstacles involves transforming the sensor data are transformed into a 3D measurement point cloud, determining related subsets as measurement point clusters from the 3D measurement point cloud of an single measurement cycle of the 3D sensor based on the local measurement point density, determining at least one of the characteristic parameters of the individual measurement point clusters, the characteristic parameters including position, orientation in space, and shape, and determining a time variation of the characteristic parameters using the recorded parameters calculated from subsequent measurement cycles, from which the association of a measurement point cluster with a real obstacle or with the aerosol cloud results.

Abstract: A method for segmenting the data of a 3D sensor produced in the presence of aerosol clouds and for increasing the situation awareness and the location detection of obstacles involves transforming the sensor data are transformed into a 3D measurement point cloud, determining related subsets as measurement point clusters from the 3D measurement point cloud of an single measurement cycle of the 3D sensor based on the local measurement point density, determining at least one of the characteristic parameters of the individual measurement point clusters, the characteristic parameters including position, orientation in space, and shape, and determining a time variation of the characteristic parameters using the recorded parameters calculated from subsequent measurement cycles, from which the association of a measurement point cluster with a real obstacle or with the aerosol cloud results.

Abstract: A method of processing 3D sensor data to provide terrain segmentation involves processing the 3D data so as to analyse the positions of sets returns from the terrain in the horizontal plane. Returns from an idealised flat terrain form a series of scanlines in the horizontal plane. A return having a significant displacement in the horizontal plane in comparison to other returns in the same scan line is classified as a non-ground return corresponding to an elevated object.

Abstract: A method for producing a sensor-supported, synthetic view for landing support of helicopters under brown-out or white-out conditions is provided. A virtual 3-D representation of the landing zone is continuously created from 3-D data of the intended landing zone recorded during the landing approach and a monitoring routine is available to ensure that no 3-D data that was produced under brown-out or white-out conditions is considered in the representation. As soon as the monitoring routine detects that 3-D data has been recorded under brown-out or white-out conditions, an additional radar sensor is activated to continuously produce distance and/or Doppler data of potential objects entering the landing zone, the objects being displayed to a pilot of the landing helicopter in the synthetic view.

Abstract: A method for presenting the current drift values of an aircraft on a display device in which the drift values are presented in a vector presentation. The length of the drift vector above a predefined threshold value is presented in a manner proportional to the current drift velocity, and the length of the drift vector below the threshold value is presented in a manner disproportionate to the current drift velocity. There is a continuous transition between the two ways of presentation at the threshold value.

Abstract: A method for presenting the current drift values of an aircraft on a display device in which the drift values are presented in a vector presentation. The length of the drift vector above a predefined threshold value is presented in a manner proportional to the current drift velocity, and the length of the drift vector below the threshold value is presented in a manner disproportionate to the current drift velocity. There is a continuous transition between the two ways of presentation at the threshold value.

Abstract: Method for pilot assistance in landing an aircraft with restricted visibility, in which the position of a landing point is defined by at least one of a motion compensated, aircraft based helmet sight system and a remotely controlled camera during a landing approach, and with the landing point is displayed on a ground surface in the at least one of the helmet sight system and the remotely controlled camera by production of symbols that conform with the outside view. The method includes one of producing or calculating during an approach, a ground surface based on measurement data from an aircraft based 3D sensor, and providing both the 3D measurement data of the ground surface and a definition of the landing point with reference to a same aircraft fixed coordinate system.

Abstract: A man-machine interface for assisting a pilot during takeoff or landing of an airborne vehicle in reduced external visibility includes a display which represents a virtual scenario from the perspective of a virtual observer who is himself located behind the airborne vehicle and is in the same flight attitude as the airborne vehicle itself. The virtual scenario includes a base plane which symbolizes an idealized ground surface, calculated from the instantaneous value of the altitude above ground and the instantaneous flight attitude data of the aircraft. The base plane is bounded by an artificial horizon and is continuously updated with the instantaneous flying state data and the instantaneous height above ground. The virtual scenario also includes a symbol which represents the airborne vehicle, and the position of the symbol relative to the base plane represents the current flight attitude and the instantaneous height of the airborne vehicle above ground.

Abstract: A method for producing a sensor-supported, synthetic view for landing support of helicopters under brown-out or white-out conditions is provided. A virtual 3-D representation of the landing zone is continuously created from 3-D data of the intended landing zone recorded during the landing approach and a monitoring routine is available to ensure that no 3-D data that was produced under brown-out or white-out conditions is considered in the representation. As soon as the monitoring routine detects that 3-D data has been recorded under brown-out or white-out conditions, an additional radar sensor is activated to continuously produce distance and/or Doppler data of potential objects entering the landing zone, the objects being displayed to a pilot of the landing helicopter in the synthetic view.

Abstract: A method for assessing a ground area for suitability as a landing zone or taxi area for aircraft is provided. Three-dimensional data for the ground area in a plurality of measurement cycles in a 3D sensor is produced. The measured-value density of the three-dimensional data and also of at least one further statistical property of the three-dimensional data is determined. A measure of the local roughness of the ground area is produced based on the measured-value density and the at least one further statistical property. The individual area elements of the ground area are classified on the basis of the roughness values produced according to the degree of suitability of said area elements as a landing area or taxi area.

Abstract: A man-machine interface for assisting a pilot during take-off or landing of an airborne vehicle in reduced external visibility includes a display which represents a virtual scenario from the perspective of a virtual observer who is himself located behind the airborne vehicle and is in the same flight attitude as the airborne vehicle itself. The virtual scenario includes a base plane which symbolizes an idealized ground surface, calculated from the instantaneous value of the altitude above ground and the instantaneous flight attitude data of the aircraft. The base plane is bounded by an artificial horizon and is continuously updated with the instantaneous flying state data and the instantaneous height above ground. The virtual scenario also includes a symbol which represents the airborne vehicle, and the position of the symbol relative to the base plane represents the current flight attitude and the instantaneous height of the airborne vehicle above ground.