HR: 14:40h
AN: IN23B-05    [Abstracts]
TI: Recent Applications of Unmanned Autonomous Vehicles Supporting Earth Science Research
AU: * Wardell, L J
EM: wardell@acrtucson.com
AF: ADVANCED CERAMICS RESEARCH, 3293 E Hemisphere Loop, Tucson, AZ 85745, United States
AU: Adler, J
EM: john.adler@colorado.edu
AF: Dept of Geography University of Colorado, Guggenheim 110, UCB 260, Boulder, CO 80309, United States
AB: Advances in miniaturized sensors increase the capabilities of small unmanned aerial systems (UASs) to assist in measurement and monitoring of Earth processes and satellite ground-truthing. Two examples showing the versatility and capabilities of UASs serving as airborne platforms for Earth Science research are discussed. A recent application of includes the use UASs to study the supra-glacial melt pools on the Greenland Ice Sheet in August 2007. Three models of UASs were tested and employed: Manta, Silver Fox, and the electric Silver Fox (Advanced Ceramics Research, Inc.). Imagery from the campaign included a survey of the glacier terminus near Kangerlassuaq and collected imagery which included digital photos (7.2 mp) at a height of 800-1000 ft AGL and were combined in a mosaic and geo-referenced. A hyperspectral imager, designed for the Manta UAS, did collect data to develop algorithms for melt pool depth measurements on future UAS missions. The second example is the application of the Manta UAS in atmospheric research during the Maldives campaign in 2006. Researchers from Scripps Institute of Oceanography (Ramanathan et al., 2006) developed payloads for the effort while the manufacturer developed formation capabilities for their UASs. Up to six (three were needed for the mission) UASs could autonomously fly in a stacked formation. Mission requirements often flew the top UAS above 10,000 ft with the lowest UAS near 1,500ft and the middle UAS varied its altitude to correspond with cloud height. Current developments such as shipboard recovery systems and additional sensor capabilities to support upcoming research projects will also be discussed.
UR: http://www.acrtucson.com
DE: 0394 Instruments and techniques
DE: 0726 Ice sheets
DE: 1094 Instruments and techniques
DE: 1640 Remote sensing (1855)
DE: 1794 Instruments and techniques
SC: Earth and Space Science Informatics [IN]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting