Full-scale Static Testing of the Lidar-based Autonomous Planetary Landing System (LAPS)

Future targeted exploration missions to the lunar or Martian surfaces will need an intelligent landing sensor system that can detect hazards and guide the lander to a safe site identified during the descent. Lidar-based approaches enjoy many advantages over competing hazard detection technologies, such as active illumination and high spatial resolution. A technical overview of the Lidar-based Autonomous Planetary landing System (LAPS) operational concept and design reference mission is provided. The effects of motion on the imaging capabilities of the sensor, and the consequent need for compensation, are detailed. Recent full-scale static tests using the ALHAT target at NASA Langley have been used to validate the imaging performance model of the lidar sensor. Based on the validated model, the flight baseline should be able to resolve features down to 2 cm depth and 12 cm width.