The Three Dimensional Landing Zone (3D-LZ) system was a complete degraded visual environment landing solution which provided landing zone situational awareness, aircraft guidance and obstacle avoidance information. The 3D-LZ system combined a high performance, dust tolerant imaging Laser Detection and Ranging (LADAR) system, a dynamic navigation database and graphics generation subsystem developed by the H.N. Burns Engineering Corporation for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) with the Brownout Symbology System (BOSS) developed by the U.S. Army Aviation & Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center (AMRDEC). The 3D-LZ system was flight tested by U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps pilots in actual brownout conditions at Yuma Proving Ground from July to September 2009. The 3D-LZ system allowed pilots to land safely in severe brownout conditions with low horizontal and vertical velocities. The LADAR successfully demonstrated its dust rejection technology as well as the ability to render fine terrain detail, wires and obstacles as small as sixteen inches high. The 3D-LZ system also demonstrated strong potential for use in external load operations in severe brownout conditions.
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