The Aircraft Ship Integrated Secure and Traverse (ASIST) system is a shipboard helicopter landing system developed by
Canadian company Indal Technologies (now part of US conglomerate
Curtiss-Wright). ASIST completed sea trials by July 31, 1992, and production units are in operation with the
Chilean Navy,
Republic of Singapore Navy
The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) is the naval service branch of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) responsible for defending the country against any sea-borne threats, and the protection of its sea lines of communications, that would comprom ...
,
Turkish Navy and
United States Navy.
Mode of Operation
The ASIST system employs a sophisticated
electro-optic
Electro–optics is a branch of electrical engineering, electronic engineering, materials science, and material physics involving components, electronic devices such as lasers, laser diodes, LEDs, waveguides, etc. which operate by the p ...
tracking system which detects a laser beacon-equipped helicopter. The system tracks the helicopter and provide
real time
Real-time or real time describes various operations in computing or other processes that must guarantee response times within a specified time (deadline), usually a relatively short time. A real-time process is generally one that happens in defined ...
helicopter position simultaneously via visual cues to the pilot. A computer-controlled rapid securing device will also be driven by the position data to track the helicopter at low
hover. Once the system has detected that the helicopter has landed on the deck, the securing device automatically approaches the helicopter and secures it. The securing device and traversing system are then used to align the helicopter with the deck tracks and manoeuvre it into a
hangar, all without the need for manned intervention.
All ASIST electrical and mechanical systems are
modular and are housed in the hangar or below deck level to minimize space and weight requirements.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aircraft Ship Integrated Secure And Traverse
Air traffic control