LightWare has revealed the GRF-250, an ultralight laser rangefinder designed for gimbal integration.
Designed for seamless integration with EO/IR gimbals, the GRF-250 enhances any sensor payload, adding powerful ranging and depth perception capabilities while enabling object localization.
At only 10.65g, the GRF-250 brings laser rangefinding abilities aboard a drone’s gimbal sensor payload, without burdening flight endurance or agility.
The compact 32mm x 31mm x 20mm (1.3 in x 1.2 in x 0.8 in) dimensions create ease of integration with EO/IR gimbals and help to make better compact drone builds possible, ideal for complex search and rescue or security missions in challenging and hazardous spaces.
For security, wildlife management or search and rescue, many critical drone flights are at low altitudes. Ravines, collapsed structures, and forests are terrain examples where compact drones are preferable because of collision risk.
The rangefinder allows EO/IR gimbal specialists and drone users to choose a solution tailored to their needs, with an ultralight mid-distance laser rangefinder that seamlessly becomes part of the gimbal sensor payload.
Deploying a 905nm laser, the GRF-250 delivers 250m of ranging using time-of-flight laser pulsing. Enhanced sensor performance and 1M eye safety standards make the GRF-250 ideal for low-altitude deployments in challenging environments, ranging in diversity from wildlife management to crowd monitoring.
Recognizing the demanding weather conditions where security, conservation or rescue teams need to operate drones, the GRF-250’s front face features an IP67 waterproof rating, and LightWare’s build quality ensures product integrity.
During a live product presentation webinar, LightWare demonstrated the GRF-250 capabilities, where it performed at its maximum range on low-reflectivity objects like trees and showed its ability to detect multiple objects in its field of view.
The GRF-250 is the first model in a new family of laser rangefinders, assembled by specialist LightWare technicians using a process benchmarked to ISO9001 standards.
LightWare’s CEO, Nadia Nilsen, commented, “We value learning from our customers and remaining true to the market. We believe there’s a real need for compact mid-range laser rangefinders that can be easily integrated into gimbal systems, even very compact gimbals, which has driven the development of GRF-250.
“Sensor fusion between a drone’s GPS and rangefinder’s object distance measurements creates invaluable situational awareness and actionable data, whether you’re on a security, wildlife or search and rescue mission.”
