LittlePC takes a spin on a Whirly Bird
LittlePC deployed on a helicopter for a high-resolution terrain mapping application

Mosaic Mapping Systems needed a small and mobile PC that could perform a multitude of duties to meet their demanding application. The LittlePC was to be mounted in a Helicopter as part of a high-resolution digital terrain mapping application.

Mosaic Mapping’s latest LiDAR system uses a Stealth model LPC-301 LittlePC to control all the sensors, log laser ranges, record digital camera images and GPS/Inertial data, and as well communicate with the custom 3-D navigation system. Data is logged onto the LittlePC’s internal hard drive as well as to an external hard drive connected to the firewire port. This external drive is easily removed for off site processing of the stored data. In addition the LittlePC USB ports are used to control various devices including a USB to Serial converter.

What is LiDAR?
LiDAR (light detection and ranging) systems use an airborne mounted laser that pulses light at a rotating mirror, which in turn deflects the light towards the ground. The ground reflects some of the energy from each pulse of light back towards the helicopter, and the time that the light was traveling to the ground and back is measured. From this “time of flight” comes the distance from the helicopter to the ground, and by combining the laser sensor with a GPS/Inertial Navigation System it is possible to calculate the latitude, longitude and elevation of each “hit” on the ground.
The laser generates thousands of pulses per second, and the rotation of the mirror as the helicopter moves forward makes for a pattern of laser hits, so that a swath of ground under the helicopter is covered by measurements. Typically each square meter of terrain yields as least one measurement. The vertical accuracy is about 15 cm.

Mosaic Mapping Systems, Inc. is a publicly traded company (TSX-V symbol DEM) providing high-resolution terrain mapping and digital imagery. The company specializes in the integration of airborne data acquisition technologies, combining multi-sensor data collection in a single flight with the development of sophisticated end-user tools for data integration and 3-D visualization.

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