Helicopter Survey Solutions
Lead’Air’s key combination for LiDAR and DSLR imagery is a complete package for concurrent capture of point cloud data and tri-view imagery for corridor mapping and powerline inventory. Building on our successful MIDAS line of products the MIDAR-H rapidly captures imagery from three Canon 5DS 50 megapixel cameras as well as simultaneous LIDAR data to view the corridor from multiple angles, in one flight.
Captures Images at Speeds up to 0.4 Seconds
The MIDAR-H can trigger the Tri-Camera System at intervals as fast as the digital camera allows, down to 0.4 seconds. Up to 300 megapixels per second can easily be captured during the flight to ensure complete coverage of the corridor in a single pass. Coupled with the RIEGL VUX-1LR capturing an effective rate up to 750,000 measurements per second, the MIDAR-H efficiently acquires a complete view of the corridor from three directions as well as the LiDAR data, in a single pass.
Complete Corridor Coverage from Three Angles
The MIDAR-H is designed to obtain two oblique views, one forward, one back and one vertical view to capture powerline and other corridor imagery with complete confidence that all data is secured. The images are captured directly to high speed solid state hard drives during flight.
Automated Backup Provided
The MIDAR-H comes complete with an automated backup station designed for simultaneous backup of the days data to up to three different drives for fast shipment of the data to the main office and a secondary copy maintained with the flight crew until the data is confirmed at your main processing center.
Fully Compensated Mount Extreme Angular Coverage
The MIDAR-H helicopter mount allows for +/- 40° roll, +/- 10° pitch and +/-30° yaw. These extreme angles allow for fully compensating movement of the aircraft tracking the line, greatly enhancing productivity and assuring orthogonal image geometry.
Powerful Computer Control Center
The MIDAR-H is controlled by the MIDAS Computer Control Center and can take advantage of the years of development creating the best known Oblique Imaging System in the world; the MIDAS. The MIDAS Computer Control Center contains all the necessary controls for each camera, Riegl LiDAR Interface, IMU, Navigation interface, stabilized mount and all power functionality for the system. The most robust systems occasionally need maintenance. The modular unit allows for operator maintenance in the field with replacement modules overnighted, if needed.
Automated Strip/Segment Flight Planning
The MIDAR-H has it’s own automated flight planning process created expressly for taking advantage of the fully compensating mount. Provide centerline data of the corridor segments you are acquiring and with some basic information the software will do the rest. Because helicopters can fly slower and turn much tighter you fly winding corridors without dividing the flight into time consuming multiple straight segments.
Low Altitude Acquisition
The system is particularly adapted to low-level flight, automatically tracking and firing at altitudes as low as 200 ft AGL, and delivering GSD better than 0.25 inch (0.6cm). The three cameras ensure that images will be captured approaching a power-line pole, directly above it and on the opposite side after passage, while the high-resolution LIDAR scanner scans the entire width of the corridor.
Fully Adapted Metric Mapping Cameras
Instead of building the system with very costly medium format cameras, Lead’Air uses less expensive off the shelf, full frame, top of the line SLR bodies from Canon. These Lead’Air CamLens mounting systems are entirely rebuilt in our manufacturing facilities. They are reassembled using the best available lenses into true metric mapping cameras which are each delivered with an official calibration certificate.
Customized for your Particular Equipment
Do you have different equipment than we are showing? Since we manufacture our equipment onsite, most of our systems can be reconfigured and we can create a custom mount configuration to fit your equipment. Just ask for a quotation.
Technical Specifications (General)
Technical specifications MDC
| Power requirements | 24-28 Volts at 24-30 Amps |
| Size | 19.6 x 18.75 x 17.3 inch (W/H/D) (498 x 476 x 440 mm) |
| Navigation/camera control | Integrated X-TRACK flight management system |
| GPS | Integrated Garmin 18 or any external receiver |
| FMS interface | Flat panel touch screen |
| Drift measurement | Automated from IMU data |
| Cameras | 3 Canon 5DS 50 MP (1 vertical + 2 oblique) |
| Sensor | 14 bits |
| Images | 3 x 50 Megapixel RAW, TIF, JPG images |
| Image quality control | Integrated real time viewer with display |
| Image storage | 6 Solid State SATA SSD Drives |
| Performance | 0.4 second interval with Canon 5DS |
| Altitude | Max 5,000 feet |
| Operation temperature | 32-140 Fahrenheit (0-60 Celsius) |
| Shock/vibration | Pneumatic shock absorbers |
| IMU | Integrated Applanix POSAV 410 |
Technical specifications fully stabilized camera mount
| Drift correction | Motorized +/- 30 ° |
| Pitch/roll leveling | Motorized +/- 10 °/+/- 40° |
| Camera angle | Fixed (30 to 60 degree brackets available) |
| Shock/vibration | Pneumatic shock absorbers |
Weight and balance
| MIDAS computer system w’ frame, POS, cables and disks | ~106 lbs. | ~ 48 kg |
| MIDAR-H Mount (including cameras and VUX-1) | ~ 82 lbs. | ~ 37 kg |
| MIDAR-H Backup Station | ~ 35 lbs. | ~ 16 kg |
| Total | ~ 223 lbs. | ~ 101 kg |
| MIDAS computer system w’ frame, POS, cables and disks | ~106 lbs. | ~ 48 kg |
| HELIDAS Mount (including cameras) | ~ 82 lbs. | ~ 37 kg |
| Table Mount for fixed wing | ~ 37 lbs. | ~ 17 kg |
| Total Airplane mount | ~ 225 lbs. | ~102 kg |
Other MIDAR Systems: