VUX-240 laser ranging sensor

The RIEGL VUX-240-24 is a lightweight airborne laser scanner (LiDAR) with online waveform processing, made by RIEGL Laser Measurement Systems for UAV-based laser scanning. It is designed for integration with UAS, UAV and RPAS platforms and with crewed aeroplanes, helicopters and gyrocopters, and it delivers high point density at high flight speeds.

The measurement principle is RIEGL's Waveform-LiDAR technology: echo signals are digitized and processed online, which resolves multiple targets per laser pulse and lets the scanner see through dense foliage. A continuously rotating polygon mirror wheel produces perfectly linear and parallel scan lines at up to 600 lines per second, over a field of view of up to 75 degrees. The laser pulse repetition rate reaches 2.4 MHz, giving a measurement rate of up to 2,000,000 measurements per second. The maximum operating flight altitude is 1,430 m (4,700 ft).

The measuring range depends on the pulse repetition rate and on target reflectivity. At 300 kHz the range is 1,200 m for 20 % reflectivity, 1,940 m for 60 % and 2,180 m for 80 %, and at 2,400 kHz it is 460 m, 770 m and 880 m. The same trade applies to multi-target capability: up to 30 targets per pulse at 300 kHz, 24 at 600 kHz, 11 at 1,200 kHz, 7 at 1,800 kHz and 5 at 2,400 kHz. The minimum range is 5 m and accuracy is 20 mm with a precision of 15 mm at every setting. In practice the integrator selects a lower rate for height or range and a higher rate for point density.

For integration, the scanner has a mechanical and electrical interface for an optional IMU/GNSS system, with RIEGL RiLOC solutions available, and interfaces to control up to four optional cameras. Scan data is stored on an internal 2 TByte SSD, and a removable CFast memory card is provided. Mounting is to unmanned platforms or to helicopters and other crewed aircraft. RIEGL supplies the RiPROCESS, RiACQUIRE and RiUNITE software packages with the scanner, together with the RiVLib and RDBLib libraries and a plugin for ArcGIS.

Typical applications named by the maker are corridor mapping, including power line, railway track and pipeline inspection, topography in open-cast mining, surveying of urban environments, archeology and cultural heritage documentation, and agriculture and forestry. The datasheet contains the full technical data, including mass and power requirements for the installation.