Significance In addition to being used for information collection, monitoring, and rescue missions, aviation optoelectronic turrets can also cooperate with other platforms or local sensors to undertake tasks such as target search and target feature analysis, and have become indispensable equipment for airborne platforms. The aviation optoelectronic turret is based on optoelectronic technology, relying on high-tech such as optical engineering, precision machinery, information processing, automatic control, and computers, and integrates various optical imaging sensors. By utilizing the physical characteristics of the object's own radiation or reflection spectrum, the detection, recognition, and tracking of the target can be achieved through automatic or manual identification of the target. It has advantages such as passive detection, anti-electromagnetic interference, and high-resolution visual imaging. The turret equipped with laser ranging or irradiation functions can achieve precise target positioning and guidance, and has been highly valued by countries around the world. At present, a large number of aviation optoelectronic turrets have been equipped with modern aviation platforms, playing an important role.
Progress Firstly, the development path of aviation optoelectronic turrets was introduced, which was divided into four stages. The first stage products were mainly used for information collection tasks, and only had daytime information collection capabilities. Typical products include the M65 system of the US AH21 Cobra helicopter and the M397 system of the French Antelope helicopter. The second stage of the product integrates thermal imagers, lasers, etc. internally, and has the ability to perform tasks all day long. Typical products include the MMS system of the OH-58D Kiowa helicopter and the TADS system of the Apache helicopter. At this stage, the products are generally in a two axis, two frame servo configuration and can output black and white imaging simulation videos. The third stage of product integration includes high-resolution infrared thermal imagers, visible light televisions, shortwave infrared televisions, laser rangefinders/irradiators, and other sensors, expanding geographic tracking and positioning capabilities. Generally, a two axis four frame servo configuration is adopted, which improves control accuracy and imaging quality. At present, it has entered the fourth stage of development, with a large number of high-performance turrets emerging. With high control accuracy, strong imaging ability, continuously improving intelligence level, it integrates various types of advanced sensors internally, is capable of executing diverse tasks, and able to complete ultra long range target detection and recognition.
Foreign aviation optoelectronic turrets mainly include Euroflight series, Star Safire series, MX series, MTS series, and PV series products, all of which have been loaded in large quantities on aviation platforms. Through comprehensive investigation, the specific models, functions, and detailed technical parameters of foreign aviation optoelectronic turrets were excavated. From the aspects of system design, servo design, structural design, optical technology, new imaging detection technology, image enhancement technology, and artificial intelligence technology, the development trend of aviation optoelectronic turrets is revealed: 1) miniaturization and lightweight. 2) Multi sensor collaboration and modularization. 3) The development direction of servo systems for universal joint support or active damping devices. 4) Development direction of large aperture, long focal length, and large array optical systems and sensors. 5) Technical directions include infrared image enhancement, visible light image dehazing, multispectral image fusion, image stitching, and image super-resolution reconstruction. 6) Intelligent monitoring, control, and analysis based on artificial intelligence. 7) Application of technologies such as infrared polarization imaging, multispectral imaging, and single photon detection 3D imaging.
Conclusions and Prospects The development of aviation optoelectronic turrets is flourishing, and in response to the needs of different platforms for turrets, it is necessary to plan the development of aviation optoelectronic turrets from a hierarchical development perspective and an overall perspective. The purpose of this study is to provide some reference for the development and optimization of future aviation optoelectronic turrets. In the future, aviation optoelectronic turrets that achieve ultra-high level servo stability can achieve functions such as detecting, identifying, and locating targets at ultra long distances under typical mission conditions, playing an increasingly important role in executing diverse tasks on aviation platforms.
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