Performance of obstacle detection and collision warning system for civil helicopters

Some helicopters strike the power lines under the good weather conditions. Helicopter pilots sometimes have some difficulties to find such long and thin obstacles. We are developing an obstacle detection and collision warning system for civil helicopters in order to solve such problems. A color camera, an Infrared (IR) camera and a Millimeter Wave (MMW) radar are employed as sensors. This paper describes the results of different flight tests that show good enhancement of radar detection over 800m range for power lines. Additionally, we exhibit the processed fusion images that can assist the pilots in order to recognize the danger of the power lines.