About OADS

Optical Air Data Systems, LLC (OADS), a high technology, award-winning small business located in Manassas, Virginia, is a rapid developer of lightweight and rugged Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) and remote sensing solutions for real world precision measurement problems, launching new industries based around its seminal, game-changing technology.  OADS is the world’s leading developer of fiber optic measurement systems for target range, target velocity, and remote wind sensing to meet the demand for precision measurements under extreme conditions for military, aerospace, and commercial markets.  Our team consists of leading experts in fiber optic laser design and lightweight, robust LIDAR/Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV) sensor system design.  OADS specializes in the successful completion of accelerated high technology projects, rapidly translating core technologies from scientific discovery into hands-on, working prototypes, including commercialization through our experienced team of subject matter experts, scientists, and engineers.

OADS was born out of the aerospace industry and has successfully applied and integrated telecom advancements in fiber optic technology into a variety of products.  These innovations include the world’s first LIDAR-based low-speed altimeter, airspeed, and ground velocity sensor for rotary wing aircraft, LIDAR for wind turbine control, hand-held laser wind sensor, laser range finder, ground and vehicle mounted laser wind sensors, and air data sensors for fixed wing aircraft.  Several of OADS’ products are transitioning to full-scale manufacturing through our licensee.  OADS has won multiple awards for outstanding development of new technology, including the 2007 Tibbetts Award by the Small Business Technology Council.

Our Technology and Products

OADS’ core capabilities are the unique integration of state-of-the-art, high-powered, pulsed, and continuous wave (CW) fiber optic laser transmitters and receivers at both 1550 nm and 1064 nm and creating full LIDAR and LDV systems that utilize those lasers to meet customer needs in real world environments.  OADS produces high reliability systems with no moving parts, designed robustly and ruggedly to meet Military Specification (MIL-SPEC) requirements (even in commercial applications) and comply with American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Class 1 eye safety requirements.  We offer compact and cost-effective remote sensing solutions that are immune to background light and illumination and are the most energy-efficient devices on the market.  Our technology is covered by over twenty-seven patents.

OADS has developed the first commercially available LIDAR wind sensor for the renewable energy market, as well as the world’s first hand-heldlaser wind sensor.  Working with our commercial spin-off, Catch the Wind, Inc., OADS designed, developed, and produced several generations of the LIDAR wind sensor for wind turbine control and wind resource assessment.  OADS’ engineers designed and qualified these sensors to Military Standard (MIL-STD) 810F and European Conformity (CE) certification standards, while lowering size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) with each subsequent generation.  To date, these systems have accumulated over 100,000 hours of continuous operation in the field. 

OADS capitalized on this development experience by reducing the SWaP even further to create the world’s first hand-held laser wind sensor for use in the 33rd America’s Cup race.  This hand-held wind sensor was the first LIDAR system to be IP-67 compliant and swimmable.  Operating from a small RC airplane battery, it measures the wind to distances of over 1,000 meters ahead of the sensor.  The technology developed for our LIDAR applications is the precursor to a complete Optical Air Data Sensor Suite, ideal for commercial and military aviation applications.  OADS’ next generation products include the AirRay™ Laser Airspeed Sensor, the WindSceptor™ Air Data System, and the Shooter’s Edge™ Laser Wind Sensor, the lowest SWaP-C LIDAR systems for wind speed and airspeed measurement currently available.