HR: 0800h
AN: GP21A-05    [Abstracts]
TI: A Small Autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Ant-Plane 4, for aeromagnetic survey
AU: * Funaki, M
EM: funaki@nipr.ac.jp
AF: National Institute of Polar Research, 9-10 Kaga 1 Itabashi, Tokyo, 173- 8515, Japan
AU: Tanabe, S
EM: tanabe@fuji-imvac.co.jp
AF: Fuji Imvac Inc., 6-18 Higashi-machi Isogo-Ku, Yokohama, 235-0005, Japan
AU: Project, A
EM: funaki@nipr.ac.jp
AF: National Institute of Polar Research, 9-10 Kaga 1 Itabashi, Tokyo, 173- 8515, Japan
AB: Autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) are expected to use in Antarctica for geophysical research due to economy and safety operations. We have developed the technology of small UAVwith autonomous navigation referred to GPS and onboard magnetometer, meteorolgical devices and digital camera under the Ant-Plane project. The UAV focuses on operation for use in the summer season at coastal area in Antarctica; higher temperature than -15C under calm wind. In case of Ant-Plane 4, it can fly continuously more than 500 km, probably more than 1000 km, although the flight in Antarcitca has not succeeded The UAV of FRP is pusher type drone consisting of 2.6m span and 2.0m length with 2-cycles and 2-cylinder 86cc gasoline engine (7.2 HP) navigated. The maximum takeoff weight is 25kg including 1kg of payload. Cruising distance 500 km at speed of 130 km/h using 10 litter of fuel. The UAV is controlled by radio telemeter within 5km from a ground station and autonomous navigation referred to GPS latitude and longitude, pitot tube speed and barometer altitude. The magnetometer system consists of a 3-component magneto-resistant magnetometer (MR) sensor (Honeywell HMR2300), GPS and data logger. Three components of magnetic field, latitude, longitude, altitude, the number of satellite and time are recorded every second during 6 hours. The sensitivity of the magnetometer is 7 nT and we use a total magnetic field intensity for magnetic analysis due to unknown direction of heading of the plane. We succeeded in long distant flight to 500km with magnetometer by Ant-Plane 4 collaborated with Geoscience Australia, in March 2006. The survey was performed in the area 10kmx10km at Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. The magnetic data are obtained from 41 courses (250m in interval) of EW direction. The altitude of the flight was 900m from sea level and 500m from the runway. MR-magnetometer sensor was installed at the tip of a FRP pipe of 1m length, and the pipe was fixed to the head of the plane in order to reduce the plane magnetization. After 4 hours 14 minutes from the takeoff, the 500km flight was accomplished and the magnetic data were stored in the data logger. The straight flight course was almost consistent with the way point course, but the course was drastically disturbed when the plane was turning. The resolution of magnetic field decreased to 30nT, when the plane flew to the tail wind. However, it is worse against the head wind. Obtained anomaly pattern was compared with the magnetic anomaly pattern published by Geoscience Australia. Both patterns were essentially consistent, although a part of pattern in the head wind flights was not resemble. Ant-Plane 4 flew up to 5700 m in altitude with aerosol counter, thermometer and hygrometer at northern part of Japan. A drastic change of temperature, humidity and particle number was observed at the inversion layer of atmosphere. Consequently we conclude that the small drone Ant-Plane 4 can be used for geophysical research. We are making effort to develop Ant-Plane for more simple assemblage and more easy operation.
DE: 0925 Magnetic and electrical methods (5109)
DE: 1517 Magnetic anomalies: modeling and interpretation
DE: 5109 Magnetic and electrical properties (0925)
SC: Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism [GP]
MN: 2007 Joint Assembly