# US 2017/0283087 A1 · Sensor-based detection of landing zones > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0283087 A1 - Document ID: US20170283087A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/463,430 - Filed: 2017-03-20 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-31 - Assignees: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation - Applicants: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation - Inventors: William McNeill - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170283087A1 ## CPC - B64D 45/08: optical - B64F 1/18: Visual or acoustic landing aids - G01S 7/4808: {Evaluating distance, position or velocity data} - G01S 17/42: Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates (indirect measurement G01S17/46) - G01S 17/89: for mapping or imaging - G06F 7/02: Comparing digital values (G06F7/06, {G06F7/22,} G06F7/38 take precedence) - G06F 16/252: {between a Database Management System and a front-end application} - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT - B64F: GROUND OR AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-DECK INSTALLATIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT; DESIGNING, MANUFACTURING, ASSEMBLING, CLEANING, MAINTAINING OR REPAIRING AIRCRAFT, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; HANDLING, TRANSPORTING, TESTING OR INSPECTING AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A method of detecting a landing zone includes scanning an area using a sensor system to obtain data of the area. One or more markings are identified from the data. The one or more markings are verified as corresponding to an intended landing zone. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of detecting a landing zone, comprising: scanning an area using a sensor system to obtain data of the area; identifying one or more markings from the data; and verifying the one or more markings as corresponding to an intended landing zone. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein scanning the area includes using a LIDAR system configured to emit an optical beam to obtain point cloud data of the area based on a returned portion of the optical beam, and filtering the point cloud data based on intensity of the returned portion of the optical beam. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the LIDAR system includes a laser and an optical sensor and the area corresponds to one of a helipad and a runway. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the point cloud data is obtained as a continuous stream of points including intensity information for the scanned area. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein filtering the point cloud data include searching for points that are higher in intensity than neighboring points. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein filtering includes performing edge detection on the point cloud data. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein identifying one or more markings include running filtered points through a template matching algorithm comparing the one or more markings against one or more templates stored in a database. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein identifying one or more markings further includes using optical character recognition techniques. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further including communicating the landing zone to at least one of a flight control system and a flight controller. ### Claim 10 A system for detecting a landing zone, comprising: a sensor system; and a processor operatively connected to the one or more sensors and configured to perform machine readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to: scan an area using the one or more sensors to obtain data of the area; identify one or more markings from the data; and verify the one or more markings as corresponding to an intended landing zone. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the sensor system includes a LIDAR system having a laser and an optical sensor mounted on an aircraft, the LIDAR system configured to emit an optical beam to obtain point cloud data of the area based on a returned portion of the optical beam. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the system is further configured to filter the point cloud data based on intensity of the returned portion of the optical beam. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, further including a database operatively connected to the processor, wherein identifying one or more markings include running filtered points through a template matching algorithm comparing the one or more markings against one or more templates stored in the database. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the area corresponds to one of a helipad and a runway. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, further including a flight control system configured to receive information relating to the landing zone.