Optical and thermal tracking of aircraft and drones

Robustly constructed, the LOMA system accommodates large multiple camera payloads enabling high precision optical tracking of fast moving aircraft, drones or projectiles even in environments subject to vibration, electromagnetic radiation or extremes in temperature and humidity.

Fitted with a Basler high resolution optical camera with a 50mm Nikon lens and a FLIR X8500SC thermal imaging camera with 200mm lens, the LOMA system was used to track approximately 15Km of the plane flight. In poor weather or night time conditions the data from the thermal camera would be the preferred way to track the target.

Fast to set-up and easy to operate, the LOMA tracking mount provides a high level of camera positional accuracy and operational flexibility. Using independent motors, LOMA system users can control camera elevation (-20 to +190°) and provide unlimited azimuth rotation using slip ring technology. Precision motor controls ensure smooth auto track functions to capture distant fast moving objects with an angular accuracy of ±0.002°.

In this field trial the LOMA system used a ‘hot spot’ tracking algorithm focused on the aircraft nose. However the software has an offset function that allows the centre of the field-of-view to be moved away from the specific area being tracked. This feature is particularly useful when looking at rocket plumes which are at the rear of the projectile but the area of interest is the front or mid-section. Further along the flight of the tracked object the offset can be reduced or removed as the tracking point changed from the front to the centre as the target changes orientation.