Patent ID: 7642929

Claim:
An electromagnetic emissions-passive and autonomous enhanced safety method of landing a helicopter in a loose dust area, said method comprising the steps of: recording digital multiple image two dimensional optical representations of a proposed helicopter landing site in said loose dust area during an approach of said helicopter to said site; said recordings including a time sequence succession of updated images of terrain and encumbrances attending said landing site received at a plurality of helicopter mounted camera retinas during said recording and said approach to said landing site and in combination with helicopter flight data; constructing three dimensional representations of said loose dust landing site terrain and said encumbrances from said recorded multiple image succession two dimensional representations using image processing techniques; conveying a real time image of said landing site from said camera retinas to a pilot of said helicopter during distal portions of said approach and prior to dust cloud envelopment of said helicopter; displaying selected images of said constructed three dimensional representations of said landing site terrain and said encumbrances to said pilot during ground adjacent, helicopter dust cloud enveloped, portions of said approach; wherein displaying selected images includes morphing said time sequence succession of updated images of terrain and encumbrances attending said landing site in response to helicopter flight data signals; whereby electromagnetic emission free dusty landing assistance is provided to said pilot.