Flight test results from a low-power Doppler optical air data sensor

Rick L. McGann

doi:10.1117/12.211483

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12 June 1995 Flight test results from a low-power Doppler optical air data sensor

Rick L. McGann

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Proceedings Volume 2464, Air Traffic Control Technologies; (1995) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.211483
Event: SPIE's 1995 Symposium on OE/Aerospace Sensing and Dual Use Photonics, 1995, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

Boeing Defense & Space Group has developed and validated a LIDAR system for optically measuring air speed over a wide variety of altitudes and atmospheric conditions. Our technique uses a focused beam to backscatter the doppler shifted light off of a single atmospheric aerosol particle, thereby enhancing the return signal by over four orders of magnitude compared with non-focused LIDARS. We successfully demonstrated this approach on flight tests aboard a NASA Ames DC-8 where we measured airspeed over a broad range of test parameters (0 to 40 kft altitude, 1 to 500 knots airspeed in clear air and clouds). This paper summarizes the results of these flight tests.

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Rick L. McGann "Flight test results from a low-power Doppler optical air data sensor", Proc. SPIE 2464, Air Traffic Control Technologies, (12 June 1995); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.211483

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