North Dakota Patent of the Month – November 2022

Many times, when pilots try to capture in-flight images or video the flight, they find the videos are obstructed by glare and moisture building up on the windows. In order to combat this, externally placed cameras have been used but must meet the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulatory requirements. Even when mounted and secured, the video footage is often obscured. 

Appareo Systems, LLC, a product development company based in Fargo, North Dakota, has directed their expertise in aviation technology to design an improved externally mounted system with integrated optics and lighting.

Their design has integrated optics and lighting units and is mounted to any light receptacle on a plane. The optical unit is housed within the camera component, gathering optical data through digital cameras, multispectral image sensors, hyperspectral image sensors, and various other sensor types. The optical unit can be adapted to suit an individual aircrafts needs.  By mounting it within a lighting receptacle, the entire device can be powered by the plane, ensuring it is not limited by a short battery life.

The mounting position creates an unobscured view of the aircraft’s surroundings. The integrated lighting unit replaces the existing beacon light so that the plane does not lose any illumination. All this capability is stored within an FAA approved design.

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