CHCNAV AlphaAir 1400 Airborne LiDAR System
The AlphaAir 1400 from CHC Navigation is a premium airborne LIDAR system designed for use on various UAV platforms, helicopters or small airplanes at up to 720 m operating flight altitude.
Description
Overview
The AlphaAir 1400 from CHC Navigation is a lightweight airborne laser scanner featuring an impressive combination of weight, range, accuracy and pulse rate. The AA1400 belongs to the Alpha LiDAR series, known for its high accuracy and data quality without compromising reliability and specifically designed for use on various UAV platforms, helicopters, or small airplanes at up to 720 m operating flight altitude.
The AA1400 system integrates a Riegl’s VUX-120 with a unique forward and backward-looking field of view (FOV) designed to minimize laser shadowing and provide geometry on complex vertical structures in a single pass. In addition, the VUX-120 airborne laser scanner features a wide 100-degree field of view and a high-speed data acquisition rate of up to 1.8 MHz and a scanning range of up to 1430 meters delivering 1 cm linear accuracy.
The AlphaAir 1400 provides a survey-grade accuracy of 2 to 5 cm by combining industrial-grade CHCNAV’s GNSS and high precision IMU systems. The continuously rotating polygon mirror wheel enables scan speeds of up to 400 lines per second, perfectly suited for the fixed-wing UAV corridor mapping applications.
The AA1400 enables data acquisition with unrivaled completeness, especially in challenging environments with vertical surfaces and narrow canyons. In addition, it significantly reduces field operation time by minimizing laser shadowing and provides geometry on complex vertical structures in a single pass. In addition, the ability to integrate external cameras – DSLR, thermal or multispectral, empowers an unlimited number of applications.
In one click connect the AlphaPort to the power source; in the second click, start the LiDAR. The AA1400 eliminates the need for additional accessories and time for camera calibration. The AlphaAir1400 can be installed with increased protection against potential damage on the wide range of unmanned aerial vehicles.
The AlphaAir 1400 is a compact unit with an embedded remote control system and 1TB of internal data storage capacity. It is designed to take aerial drone surveying missions to the next level – to conduct safe operations at higher flight altitudes and cover larger areas per flight than usually achievable.
The CHCNAV software package allows a complete LiDAR solution to be added to the users’ geomatic services. Fully automated reality capture and real-time mission tracking are performed with CoCapture UAV software and semi-automatic point cloud processing using CoPre desktop software.
Features
- Highest Data Quality
- Outstanding Accuracy
- Three-Direction Scanning System
- Cable-Free Connection
- Lightest Unit in Its Class
- Comprehensive Ecosystem
- Flexible Installation
- Alphaport Interface
- Various Cameras
Technical Specifications
| General System Performance | |
| Absolute Hz & V Accuracy: | < 0.050 m RMS |
| Accuracy Conditions: | Without control points, @100 m flight altitude AGL |
| Mounting: | The connection between equipment and aircraft uses quick disassembly structure, simple and easy to operate. There is no cable between unit and aircraft, camera and unit. |
| Weight: | 2.98 kg |
| Dimensions: | 27.0 cm × 11.7 cm × 16.7 cm (10.62 in × 4.6 in × 6.57 in) |
| Communications: | 1 x Alphaport to power the unit, 1 x Alphaport to connect the camera, 1 x RS232 data transfer port |
| Remote Control: | Up to 8 km, wireless control of instrument parameters and data recording in real time |
| Data Storage: | 1 TB internal SSD |
| Point Density on Airborne Setup 10.3 m/s (20 kn) Speed: | 500 pts/sqm @ 120 m AGL |
| Laser Scanner | |
| Laser Class: | 1 (in accordance with IEC 60825-1:2014) |
| Max. Range, Reflectivity > 80%: | 1430 m |
| Max. Range, Reflectivity > 20%: | 760 m |
| Max. Operating Flight Altitude AGL, Reflectivity > 60%: | 720 m |
| Minimum Range: | 5 m |
| Accuracy: | 10 mm |
| Precision: | 5 mm |
| Field of View: | ±50° = 100° |
| Maximum Scan Rate: | 1,800,000 shots/sec |
| Scan Speed (Selectable): | 50-400 scans/sec |
| Max. Returns Supported: | 5 to 15 (depending on selected scan rate) |
| Positioning & Orientation System | |
| GNSS System: | Multiple GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, SBAS and QZSS constellation, L-Band |
| IMU Update Rate: | Standard 100 Hz (user selectable up to 600 Hz) |
| Position Accuracy NO GNSS Outage: | 0.010 m RMS horizontal, 0.010 m RMS vertical, 0.005 degrees RMS pitch/roll, 0.010 degrees RMS heading |
| Imaging System | |
| Camera Type: | Modular upgrade options: DSLR, thermal, multispectral |
| Airborne Default Camera Setup: | CHC AS-C4200 (calibrated Sony A7 RII) |
| Resolution: | 7952 x 5304, 42.4 MP, 5 fps |
| Environmental | |
| Operating Temperature: | -10 °C to +40 °C |
| Storage Temperature: | -20 °C to +50 °C |
| IP Rating: | IP64 |
| Humidity (Operating): | 80%, non-condensing |
| Electrical | |
| Input Voltage: | 24 V (wide range 11 V ~ 34 V) |
| Power Consumption: | 60 W |
| Power Source: | Depending on aircraft or UAV battery |
Ordering
The AlphaAir 1400 airborne LiDAR system from CHC Navigation is available through Canal Geomatics. If you would like more information about this product, please feel free to get in touch with us by completing the Request Pricing form.
