The LTAS 100 balloon surveillance system is designed to be equally cost effective and mission effective. Employing a patented method for aerial surveillance, the LTAS 100 systems are truly the state of the art for UAV operations.

Systems are categorized by payload capability

Non-Stabilized, Fair Weather

Stabilized, Fair Weather

Stabilized, All-Weather

Methods and Technologies
Unique and Unprecedented Features of the LTAS 100 systems
• Use of Megapixel sensors coupled with Canon EF lenses for superior detail
• All systems are based on Lighter-Than-Air platforms
• Mechanical Pan/Tilt/Zoom (PTZ) combined with Digital PTZ
• Networked cameras and telemetry using IP (Internet Protocol) standards for video
• Syndication and PTZl operation from any computer in the world

Operational Environment of the LTAS 100
• Extended mission duration using Lighter-Than-Air balloon platform
• View, analyze and record live video on multiple workstations simultaneously
• Capture of up to 16 megapixel still images for extreme detail
• Daylight and Nighttime (low light) operation
• Wide field of view with simultaneous zoomed view for superior situational awareness
• Flexible deployment with available all-weather capability in up to 50mph winds

LTAS 100 Technical Characteristics
• Megapixel cameras using a minimum of 1/2" sensor and up to 2/3" sensors
• Camera resolutions from 2 million pixels up to 16 million pixels
• Internet Protocol (IP) based with JPEG2000 and H.264 protocols
• Wired and wireless data capable
• Encryption of data using DOD approved algorithms
• Wind-capable balloon up to 50mph
• Night capability at extreme low light with up to .01 LUX sensitivity
• Optical zoom using Canon EF lenses and digital zoom at megapixel resolutions
• 3-Axis (pitch, yaw, roll) gyro-stabilized articulating camera platform (optional)

Cameras on competing aerial surveillance systems are analog, standard definition at a maximum of 640x480 pixels with most at 320x280 using a 1/4" sensor. The LTAS 100 systems use up to 16 megapixel sensors with a 2/3" array. This is 53x their best resolution.

So let’s compare: the standard approach with a maximum of 300,000 pixels versus the LTAS approach with 16 million pixels. The pictures below show the relative difference in resolution between megapixel cameras and standard resolution cameras. The pixel density of the left image is the equivalent to 300,000 pixels and the right image compares to 16 million pixels.

Standard (300,000 pixels)	16 megapixel (16,000,000 pixels)

A very important benefit to the Aerial Products’ megapixel cameras is the wide field of view at high resolution. The image below shows how many standard definition cameras you would need in order to get the same field of view and resolution you get from our megapixel systems.

What does the LTAS 100 Operational Concept Mean for Your Mission Requirements?
We’ve all seen the Hollywood videos of surveillance through walls, or a satellite view of someone walking down the street and you can read the “Hello my name is" tag on their chest. The truth is, to achieve this level of stability, resolution and optical zoom; the costs are so great that only a three-letter federal agency (NSA) can afford it.

The operational concept of the LTAS 100 series is that you don’t extraordinarily expensive, difficult to maintain hardware to have detail in a scene. Through the exclusive aerial use of digital megapixel sensors, we provide a wide field of view scene at up to 20 frames per second while simultaneously providing a high-resolution zoomed picture at operator-determined rates of up to 5 frames per second. This approach eliminates the need for ultra-stabilized sensors (which reduces complexity and cost) but also represents a breakthrough in aerial surveillance capability.

The image at left is a live, 3 frame per second capture occurring simultaneously with a live 20 frame per second wide view of the entire scene. In addition, what distinguishes the LTAS 100 is that you can have many workstations and operators performing the same tasks using the same detector at the same time.

Now, in fairness, the old conventional systems at 300k pixels compensate for their lack of resolution through the use of optical zoom. However, the use of optical zoom requires incredible stability to reduce detector/camera motion and vibration. Once you account for the required high level of sensor stabilization with this approach, you accordingly introduce tremendous complexity and expense.

For example, with a standard definition camera, if you are viewing a scene of 400 feet by 400 feet, the camera is moving even with gyro-stabilization. As you increase zoom level and reduce the field of view, the motion and vibration of the camera becomes more noticeable and distracting. By the time you are at maximum optical zoom, the scene is bouncing around so much it is not very useful and increases operator fatigue. Most systems that cost less than $250,000 have this mediocre level of stability. They use 2-axis digital-gyro gimbals with belt drive motors statically connected to the detector. It costs over a million dollars to get absolute stability at 10-times or more optical zoom. These high-end systems, like our LTAS 300 system, use magnetic isolators with precision mechanical spinning gyros providing 3-axis stabilization.

The LTAS 100 methodology doesn’t need million-dollar stabilization to accomplish the mission. Because the LTAS 100 system captures 16,000,000 compared to their 300,000 pixels, uses newer technology and a radically different operational concept, it is the optimal choice for combining quality and cost effectiveness.

The photo below shows what the operator sees using the APC megapixel camera with digital zoom and the same scene they see using a very expensive 3-axis stabilized standard definition camera.

System and Options
Aerial Products takes a consultative approach to system design and configuration. Through a comprehensive interview process we will help you determine the right system and configuration for your current and potential future needs. Please feel free to contact us with any preliminary thoughts or questions. No one company or system can meet all requirements and there are many situations where we don’t have the solution. Contact us for an honest assessment. If we can’t meet your objectives, we will tell you.

LTAS 100 system configuration options are grouped by four primary sub-systems:
• Launcher
• Camera gimbal
• Data downlink
• Camera / sensor

Each sub-system has various options.
1. Launcher
• Trailer
• Cargo-bed sled
• Electric winch
2. Camera gimbal
• Non-stabilized
• Gyro-stabilized
• Weather; All-weather, fair weather only
3. Data downlink
• Via tether
• Via wireless; 802.11, 900mhz, Cellular 3G
4. Camera / Sensor
• Daylight only
• Daylight + Nighttime
• Resolution; 2mpixel to 16mpixel
5. Power
• Batteries
• Gen-set
• Solar panels
• Line power
6. Balloon
• Aerostat (blimp)
• KingFisher™ balloon with parasail wing
7. Ground station
• Laptop, desktop, web page, touch screen or joystick operation
• Remote view, remote record, post-capture zoom
• Long-distance RC radio

Training and Operating
• Deploying an LTAS takes a few days of training of non-technical personnel
• No special skills are required to operate or maintain the LTAS
• Many sub-systems can be remotely configured and maintained by Aerial Products
• LTAS surveillance systems are modular
? Sub-systems can be upgraded as mission requirements change
? Use of non-proprietary technology reduces risk of obsolescence