PILLS (Pushbroom Imaging LiDAR for Littoral Surveillance) is a Joint ONR NAVAIR-funded SBIR program that utilizes Areté’s Streak Tube Imaging LiDAR (STIL) technology and provides unparalleled capabilities for high-resolution bathymetric data collection.
The low-SWaP sensors have been deployed on both the Seahunter and Schiebel CAMCOPTER S-100 UAS, and can be used to carry out hydrographic surveys, detailed coastal and nearshore mapping, and alternate detection missions.
The original PILLS program produced a series of low-SWaP IHO-compliant LiDAR systems compatible with tactical UAS. In addition, Areté has collaborated with Fugro to create commercial variants of the technology known as Rapid Airborne Multibeam Mapping Systems (RAMMS).
Specifications:
| PILLS | RAMMS 2 | |
| Dimensions: | 40 x 11 x 8” | 25 x 12 x 14.5” |
| Weight: | 30 lbs (14 kg) | 65 lbs (30 kg) |
| Power Consumption: | 8A @ 28 VDC (224W) | 11A @ 28 VDC (308W) |
| Pulse Rate Frequency: | 30 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Bandwidth: | 532 nm | |
| Swath: | 0.9x alt, 300m nominal | |
| Horizontal Sampling: | 39” x 39” | |
| Depth Penetration: | 3 * kd - 1 | |
| Point Density: | 25,000 pps | 50,000 pps |
| FOV: | 45o, rearward 15o | |
| Area Search Rate (UAS): | 12 sq mi (31 sq km)/hr | |



