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Scanning – The Way It Was Meant To Be™

The lightweight RTL-450 LiDAR system integrates onto multiple sUAS platforms and generates high-resolution point clouds for government and defense applications.

Proprietary MEMS mirror LiDAR technology allows all laser pulses to be transmitted to the ground.

High Point Density

The RTL-450 utilizes dual-antenna GPS to enhance point cloud accuracy even when flying at low speeds.

Accuracy + Precision

Unrivaled data density and superior accuracy result in high-resolution point cloud images that capture details that competitors simply can’t.

High-Resolution Images

 
Providing the absolute best solutions available for the United States Department of Defense and Government operations.

The innovative and lightweight RTL-450 is made in the USA and is designed to operate independently of the sUAS, facilitating quick and efficient integration onto user-selected sUAS platforms.

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RedTail exhibited its MEMS mirror-based LiDAR products at both SOF Week 2025 (Tampa, FL) and XPONENTIAL 2025 (Houston, TX). Now a part of Accenture Federal Services, RedTail is rapidly introducing LiDAR analytic services just as its second major product release approaches a late Summer 2025 launch. Attendees at SOF Week and XPONENTIAL caught a glimpse of the next system, aptly named the 

, for its rapid reconfigurability to support comprehensive 3D collects across aerial and ground modes of operation.

RedTail is a pioneer of MEMS mirror-based LiDAR sensing. We released the RTL-450 in 2021 and were the first to offer 400K+ points / sec across ~ 30 deg field of regard, enabling rapid collection of incredibly dense point clouds. The focused viewing angles of the RTL-450 family illuminate precisely where you want to see in 3D – We don’t waste energy looking away from the action. By avoiding spinning mirrors and complex moving sensor arrays, RedTail delivers the value of active 3D imaging without inherent risks of mechanical failure that plague alternative systems.

The RTL-450 Recon extends the reach of the RTL-450 to edge environments where success hinges on adaptability, onboard computation, reduced SWaP, and thermal management. With aerial, handheld, and tripod modes of operation, the RTL-450 Recon enables flexibility in how, when, and where critical sites are scanned. With total system weight < 4 lbs. at 8” x 5” x 4” size, the RTL-450 Recon redefines accessible capability.

Stay tuned for additional updates this summer as RedTail premieres its new offering for users with demanding, time-sensitive missions: 3D sensing + embedded analytics + edge processing are on the way.

RedTail LiDAR Exhibits at SOF Week 2025 and XPONENTIAL 2025

We are excited to announce that the RedTail RTL-450 is now officially part of the Blue UAS Framework! This significant milestone highlights the importance of our RTL-450 LiDAR technology in meeting the highest standards for security. By joining this exclusive framework, the RTL-450 provides government and industry partners with advanced 3D imaging capabilities, fully compliant with NDAA requirements and rigorously cybersecurity tested for DoD applications. This reduces risk and ensures seamless integration with existing Blue UAS platforms. Together with its colleagues at Accenture Federal Services, RedTail is delivering cutting-edge, secure technology solutions that exceed the evolving needs of our clients.

RTL-450 Joins Blue UAS Framework

The San Diego Convention Center will play host to XPONENTIAL 2024, a premier gathering of leaders in unmanned systems, robotics, and autonomous technology, from April 22-25. Industry professionals will have the opportunity to explore the latest innovations, and RedTail LiDAR Systems is set to be a standout participant at the event.

A pioneer in micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) mirror-based LiDAR technology, RedTail LiDAR Systems will be showcasing advanced capabilities of its state-of-the-art LiDAR system at booth #3220.RedTail is at the forefront of LiDAR technology, offering indispensable tools to users across the defense, commercial, and government sectors.

RedTail's MEMS mirror-based LiDAR technology enables users to measure and interpret the world in three dimensions with unprecedented precision and ease. Whether determining locations, sizes, shapes, or volumes, the RTL-450 LiDAR system delivers unparalleled accuracy and reliability.

The versatility of RedTail's LiDAR technology will be on display in the exhibit hall.A wide range of domains and applications are supported:

 From small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) to unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), RedTail's LiDAR technology has you covered.Our team has developed solutions for applications spanning rapid runway repair, battle damage assessment, unexploded ordnance detection, critical asset monitoring, and subsea cable and mine detection.

 RedTail's solutions are tailored to meet the demanding requirements of DoD users.Workflows support complex missions that require high-resolution, high-accuracy 3D visualizations for mission planning and execution.

Applications that demand heightened awareness of one’s environment are oftentimes well-suited for LiDAR-based sensing. Monitoring long-distance utility lines carrying electricity, gas, or water is an application that benefits from the active 3D sensing of LiDAR: Laser light pulses reflect off the surfaces of wires and pipelines to convey information about their integrity and location. Environmental monitoring and construction projects derive similar benefits from laser pulse-based imaging.RedTail’s MEMS mirror-based LiDAR literally sees with light rays the user controls.

RedTail LiDAR Systems to Bring Cutting-edge 3D Sensing Technology to XPONENTIAL 2024

, the most anticipated networking & collaboration event of the year for the special operations community.

Come learn how our LiDAR solution is changing outcomes one mission at a time, pulse by pulse, insight by insight.

With industry-leading pulse rate and narrow beam divergence over hundreds of feet, the RTL-450 is a premiere high-definition 3D imaging solution for those who are all about the details, 24/7.

Stop by booth #1151 to learn about current and upcoming capabilities in 2024. Have a conversation and help shape future product features!

RedTail to Exhibit at SOF Week 2024

In a significant corporate move, Dr. Stephen Pledgie has been appointed as the new Vice President of RedTail Lidar Systems, a role that promises to harness his technical expertise and strategic insights in imaging systems and the computer vision industry. Mark Evans, Director of Operations at RedTail, has expressed high confidence in Dr. Pledgie's appointment, remarking, "I have been very fortunate to work with Dr. Stephen Pledgie who recently joined our team in the role of Vice President. His extensive background in advanced analytics will significantly enhance the utility of our Next Generation small form factor LiDAR sensor, which is currently in development. The upcoming system is set to deliver unmatched high-definition 3D images and fully-automated point cloud colorization with fused visible and multispectral imagery. We’re not just enhancing our technology; we’re reimagining the potential of 3D imaging. Dr. Pledgie’s vision will take RedTail LiDAR to the next level as a world-class innovator in 3D sensing technologies."

Dr. Pledgie joined RedTail in January 2024 from Accenture Federal Services where he served as a Senior Menager and led work for the Department of Justice in data architecture transformation, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. He brings more than two decades of experience in robotics, advanced sensing, and automated perception in complex environments. Seasoned in business development and program management, Dr. Pledgie has the business acumen and technical skills necessary to lead RedTail to new heights as its LiDAR technology takes hold. He is eager to position RedTail as a unique provider of advanced LiDAR-based solutions that offer actionable insights to users tackling problems of national significance.

Dr. Pledgie’s educational accolades include a Doctor of Philosophy and a Master of Science in Biomechanics & Movement Science from the University of Delaware and a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from the University of Delaware. He has authored numerous publications that span a broad range of topics from video surveillance metrics to airspace management, gravity-compensated mechanisms, and pathological tremor suppression.

Dr. Stephen Pledgie joins RedTail as Vice President

When classifying objects in 3D LiDAR data, it is important to use efficient collection methods and processing algorithms. This paper considers the resolution needed to classify 3D objects accurately and discusses how this resolution is accomplished for the RedTail RTL-450 LiDAR System. We employ VoxNet, a convolutional neural network, to classify the 3D data and test the accuracy using different data resolution levels. The results show that for our data set, if the neural network is trained using higher resolution data, then the accuracy of the classification is above 97%, even for the very sparse testing set (10% of original test data set point density). When the training is done on lower resolution data sets, the classification accuracy remains good but drops off at around 3% of the original test data set point density. These results have implications for determining flight altitude and speed for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to achieve high accuracy classification. The findings point to the value of high-resolution point clouds for both the training of the convolutional neural network and in data collected from a LiDAR sensor.

Optimal LiDAR Data Resolution Analysis for Object Classification

The RTL-450 incorporates a lightweight MEMS mirror and a precision navigation system to generate accurate data for the most demanding of aerial surveying missions. The high-resolution, three-dimensional point clouds created by the RTL-450 provide operators an unsurpassed ability to conduct advanced analytics of geographic and manmade features on the earth's surface.

RedTail LiDAR Systems Unveils Innovative LiDAR System for Small Drones

Fairmont, WV, October 4, 2021 — RedTail LiDAR Systems, a leader in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) mirror-based light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology, has delivered six LiDAR systems to the 707th Ordnance Company stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. These systems will provide Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians an opportunity to assess how LiDAR can be used to enhance their operations.

Lidar Unit Weight (with dual GPS Antenna)	2.2 kg (4.8 lbs)
Dimensions	9.4" L x 4.6" W x 4.6" H
Max Range to 20% Reflective Targets (e.g. grass, vegetation)	120 meters (400 feet)
Max Range to 80% Reflective Targets (e.g. white surfaces)	160 meters (525 feet)
Wavelength	1550 nm
Pulse Repetition Rates	100, 200, or 400 kHz
Scan Rate	200 lines/sec
Returns Per Pulse	3
Measurement Rate	1 million points/second
Power	45 Watt
GNSS/IMU	Applanix APX-18

RedTail sUAS
LiDAR Systems

Scanning – The Way It Was Meant To Be™

High Point Density

Accuracy + Precision

High-Resolution Images

Government and Defense LiDAR Solutions

RedTail LiDAR System (RTL-450)

Specifications

Customers

RedTail sUASLiDAR Systems

Scanning – The Way It Was Meant To Be™

High Point Density

Accuracy + Precision

High-Resolution Images

Government and Defense LiDAR Solutions

RedTail LiDAR System (RTL-450)

Specifications

Customers

RedTail sUAS
LiDAR Systems