High Resolution Terrain Sensing Lidar for Precision Navigation and Safe Landing of Space and Aerial Vehicles

A 3-D imaging flash lidar sensor employing a resolution enhancement algorithm is being developed at NASA Langley Research Center for providing Terrain Relative Navigation and Hazard Avoidance capabilities onboard spacecraft landing on the Moon, Mars, and other planetary bodies. This lidar sensor, we refer to as Terrain Sensing Lidar (TSL), is a solution for future missions that require landing at pre-designated sites near high value resources or at areas of high scientific value, while avoiding hazardous terrain features, such as escarpments, craters, slopes, and rocks, or pre-deployed assets. TSL can also benefit terrestrial applications such as autonomous aerial vehicles without reliance on signals from Global Positioning System (GPS).
The feasibility of the TSL concept has been shown through a series of drone, fixed-wing aircraft, and helicopter flight tests. A prototype version of the TSL has been recently assembled for conducting another set of flight tests to demonstrate its readiness for upcoming landing missions. This paper describes the TSL, provides its performance parameters, and explains its operational concepts for landing missions.