Tag: UAV

Rio Olympics reflected technology advances

The Olympics are great for technology. Yes, the competition held every four years highlights amazing athletes. But its vast support network relies on numerous technologies, including GNSS.

GNSS technology helped fans follow the canoe sprint and rowing events in Rio in more detail than before. With GPS devices attached to every vessel, spectators were able to see key data such as speed and direction — information that helps when following a lengthy race taking place offshore.

For the first time, Olympic athletes used high-tech wearables to give them an edge. Solos Smart Eyewear was designed for the USA’s Cycling team with features that allowed cyclists to see key metrics such as speed, power, distance, cadence and heart rate, plus more data from any number of connected sensors.

Drones Aloft. Drone technology has exploded since the London 2012 Olympics. In Rio, broadcasters experimented with hovering cameras. The BBC worked with Open Broadcast Service to provide international broadcasters with drone coverage of the rowing.

As for hobbyists, drone-maker DJI updated its firmware with Olympic geofences, preventing drones from flying over events. Not every drone manufacturer implements geofences, so the Brazilian military was equipped with new devices to jam drone-control signals mid-flight. The IACT DroneBlockers blast incoming drones with radio signals, effectively jamming the signal from the controller.

Beware Zika. Meanwhile, mapping technology is helping to track the spread of the Zika virus. Before the games, the World Health Organization launched a Zika app to provide information about the disease.

After the Olympics, IBM will provide local authorities with ways to track weather, social media data and travel patterns. Esri is supporting local authorities and coordinating field workers to track and contain the disease in Brazil and elsewhere.

What’s next? We’ll find out in Tokyo in 2020.

August 22, 2016
Unmanned update: Government and industry join to resolve issues

The White House has joined in to support continued growth of the emerging unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) industry. Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) technologies are powering a revolution in unmanned flight.

Already used by government, by research organizations, and by industry for more efficient and safe applications, drones are now becoming a developing part of the United States economy. A new initiative by the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) brought together 150 UAS community leaders for a recent workshop at the White House. The event was held to find out more about the UAS industry, where it’s headed, and to seek ideas for how government might contribute.

Given that the current administration has only limited time remaining, the group proposed some significant issues that could be launched, or at least where there should be focus. The only short-term goal that could be achieved by the end of the year is the release by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for UAV operations over people.

One principle objective should be for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to develop rules in concert with industry for licensing allocated frequency spectrum. While the FAA has yet to develop rules for higher altitude, larger-UAV operations, the UAS industry requires spectrum for command and control of aircraft at high altitudes and for beyond visual line of sight operations. The FAA and FCC regulations should be developed in parallel.

The group felt another problem that should be tackled is UAS Traffic Management (UTM). While NASA has been investigating prototype UTM options and various industry leaders have been advocating a number of different approaches, the group seemed to indicate that unless government took some form of leadership role, a number of different, incompatible solutions might be developed.

Finally, there was discussion about how a number of states are implementing local UAS regulations, while the FAA believes it has responsibility for all U.S. airspace. However, large numbers of small UAS (sUAS) are expected to operate at lower altitudes, so local authorities believe they should assert more control, even though they were comfortable in the past ceding control of manned aviation to the FAA. However, nationwide, uniform safety regulations appear to be just as critical for UAS as for manned aircraft, which seems to imply that the FAA should lead the effort.

So, some good issues were identified that need serious work to enable UAS operations, but it’s always a problem when someone else gets stuck with the responsibility to find solutions — which will be the case when the administration changes. Hopefully the new guys will also believe how beneficial UAS will be for the economy and will chase down and help overcome these barriers.

Package Delivery

Meanwhile, on the package delivery front, Google’s Project Wing has been approved by FAA to begin testing, albeit within the confines of Northern Plains UAS test site in North Dakota. The heavier Google delivery drones will be tested from the ground up to 29,000 feet with external loads, and efforts will be made to fly them beyond line of sight without chase aircraft. Google will also prototype a low-altitude airspace management system for the tests that uses inexpensive comms and data technologies.

While authorization in the U.S. was still pending, Google went looking for somewhere to test its prototype drone delivery system, and in August 2014 undertook testing in Queensland, Australia. At that time Google was using a vertical take-off UAV system — they delivered portable radios and water bottles to farmers.

Google tests delivery drones in Australia.

Word is that Google is now looking at fixed-wing UAVs and cargo slung from them — maybe for transporting heavier packages.

Google’s new delivery drone?

And further North in Ontario, Canada, Drone Delivery Canada (DDC) is moving forward with the development and implementation of a commercial drone delivery platform for retailers, service organizations and government agencies. In remote parts of Canada, access to some communities can be difficult to impossible for conventional means. DDC expects to add additional sites later this year for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) testing, working with the Canadian government towards obtaining its operator status. DDC also just announced an agreement with a Canadian retailer to test and integrate its drone system with the retailer’s existing depot-to-depot delivery logistics.

DDC prototype drone delivery system.

And not to be left out of this picture, 7-Eleven has been working with drone manufacturer Flirtey to test autonomous delivery of convenience store items. Dispatched from a Nevada 7 Eleven store, two deliveries were completed to a local customer’s house using precision GPS, where the Flirtey drone hovered and gently lowered each package of goodies.

Flirtey drone delivers 7-Eleven goodies.

So, while the White House now seems to be actively engaged in supporting the introduction of UAS into commercial operations in the U.S., we still have many significant obstacles to overcome — not least are access to control frequencies, the development and introduction of drone traffic-control systems, and the coordination of federal and state rule-making. But this apparently has not deterred several organizations, including Google, DDC, Flirtey/7-Eleven, Amazon, Walmart and others, to trial drone package delivery. U.S. states have also recognized the promise of everything connected with UAVs and their operations, and are collaborating with the FAA to establish large swaths of the airspace for UAV testing.

What with the White House and states already on the UAV bandwagon, surely it won’t be long before we crack the nut and get significant commercial operations approved and underway.

Tony Murfin
GNSS Aerospace

August 17, 2016
Launchpad: OEM, UAV and survey/mapping products

OEM

Geodetic Antennas

For RTK, PPP, and other precision applications

The VP6300 is a triple-band antenna for reception of GPS L1/L2/L5, GLONASS G1/G2/G3, BeiDou B1/B2 and Galileo E1/E5a+b (1165MHz to 1254MHz + 1560MHz to 1610MHz). The VP6200 is a dual-band antenna for reception of GPS L1/L2, GLONASS G1/G2, BeiDou B1/B2, Galileo E1 and the L-Band correction services (1195 MHz to 1254 MHz + 1525 MHz to 1610 MHz). Both antennas have been calibrated by the U.S. National Geodetic Survey and are designed for high-precision applications such as real-time kinematic, precise point positioning and other applications where precision matters. The antennas feature an available, uncommitted printed circuit board for integration of custom electronics such as precision GNSS receivers. Both antennas feature the VeraPhase technology used in the VP6000 all-band reference antenna.

Tallysman, www.tallysman.com

‘Future Proof’ RTK

For rover or base station

The Altus APS3G is a real-time kinematic (RTK) receiver that brings technology from scientific receivers into the field for professional surveyors. The new multi-constellation APS3G addresses major concerns about compatibility with new satellite constellations, as well as interference and jamming. Built on Septentrio’s AsteRx4 engine, the APS3G tracks all-in-view GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, IRNSS, SBAS, Galileo and QZSS, including E6/L6 and all other signals known to be available in the medium term. The APS3G incorporates Septentrio’s AIM technology with three notch filters for in-band jamming and chirp jammer resistance, ensuring the highest possible levels of accuracy and resilience under all conditions. It provides optimum GSM signal reception, as well as a built-in advanced UHF receiver for reliable performance on longer baselines, yielding real-time 25-Hz RTK.

Septentrio, www.septentrio.com

GNSS Receiver

Offshore surveys, machine control, crustal deformation

CHC’s N72 GNSS series offers high-end receivers for GNSS applications including offshore surveys and machine control, national geodetic networks, crustal deformation monitoring and bathymetry. It was designed to provide all the necessary technical features required for geodetic surveying and demanding applications such as Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS), on-board machine control and disaster monitoring. Embedded battery supports 15 working hours without external power supply; 32-GB internal memory integrated and 1TB+ external memory supported; Eight threads of logging with circulating storage and FTP push functions; Wi-Fi, LAN, Bluetooth and serial ports for data communications; and LCD display and function buttons for direct configuration.

CHC, www.chcnav.com

Anti-Jam Antenna

Suitable for airborne platforms

The GAJT-AE-N anti-jam antenna is designed for size- and weight-constrained applications such as small airborne and ground unmanned platforms where it is preferable to mount the antenna electronics inside the vehicle. Users can select from a variety of four-element Controlled Reception Pattern Antennas (CRPA) and cabling lengths to meet the form factor requirements of their installation. Interference mitigation is achieved by applying proprietary digital beamforming algorithms to the signals, creating dynamic nulls to give protection against narrowband and broadband interference sources. GAJT-AE-N comes in variants that protect L1 and L2 signals in wide or narrow band. The wide bandwidth version ensures future compatibility with M-code GPS.

NovAtel, www.novatel.com

Transportation

GNSS Modules

Automotive-grade positioning modules

The NEO-M8Q-01A and the NEO-M8L-01A positioning modules provide concurrent reception of GPS, GLONASS, Beidou and Galileo. The NEO-M8L-01A is suited to providing 100 percent dead-reckoning positioning coverage even in areas of weak signal such as in tunnels or multi-story car parks or those experiencing poor signal quality such as caused by multipath reflections. This module is qualified to operate in the -40 to +85 degrees temperature range. The NEO-M8Q-01 GNSS module is the first GNSS module able to operate across the extended automotive temperature range from -40 to + 105 degrees Celsius.

u-blox, www.u-blox.com

Connected Car Reference Platform

Simplifies integration of advanced connectivity technologies into new vehicles

The Qualcomm Connected Car Reference Platform is aimed at accelerating the adoption of advanced and complex connectivity into the next-generation of connected cars. The product is designed to maintain pace with an ever-increasing set of automotive use cases facilitated by the latest advances in 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications. The platform is also designed to solve for challenges such as wireless coexistence, future-proofing and support for a large number of in-car hardware architectures. The Connected Car Reference Platform is built upon Qualcomm Technologies’ broad automotive product and technology portfolio, including quad-constellation GNSS, Snapdragon X12 and X5 LTE modems, and 2D/3D dead-reckoning location solutions, Qualcomm VIVE Wi-Fi technology, Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) for V2X, Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy and broadcast capabilities such as analog and digital tuner support using software-defined radio via Qualcomm tuneX chips. In addition, the platform features in-vehicle networking technologies such as Gigabit (OABR) Ethernet with Automotive Audio Bus (A2B) and Controller Area Network (CAN) interfaces.

Qualcomm Technologies, www.qualcomm.com

SURVEY & MAPPING

Total Station App

Connects Android device to information gathered

Total Station Survey helps land surveyors and civil engineers view and inspect on any Android device the information gathered by the total station. It connects to the total station using Bluetooth or a USB-serial adapter/converter cable. It can measure horizontal and vertical angle, slope and horizontal distance, and set the horizontal angle on the total station. The app is available free on Google Play.

Systranova Software, play .google.com

Laser and Android App

Collect survey-grade accuracy with an Android device

The TruPoint 300 is a lightweight, compact point-and-shoot laser with survey-grade accuracy. It measures the distance between two remote points and has onboard solutions for volume, heights and 2D and 3D areas. Users can collect 3D measurements from a single location using a personal smart device and capture a photo of every shot taken, using LTI’s MapSmart on Android software. MapSmart combines sophisticated technology typically required to collect field data and puts it into a straightforward app for smart devices. It simplifies the mapping process by allowing users to establish an origin quickly and begin mapping in just minutes. Users can integrate location data using the GPS from a smart device or improve accuracy with an external antenna.
Laser Technology, www.lasertech.com

Laser Technology, www.lasertech.com

Smartphone App

Quick land measurements

GPS Fields Area Measure Pro is easy, intuitive, app to manage area, distance, perimeter. It enables fast area/distance marking, and ha a Smart Marker Mode for accurate pin placement. Its GPS tracking enables auto measurement while walking or driving around a boundary. Users can share an auto-generated link with boundary/selected area/ direction/route. GPS Field Area Measure useful as map measurement tool for outdoor activities, sports, range finder applications, bike tour planning, or run tour planning, explore golf area, land survey, golf distance meter, field pasture area measure, garden and farm work and planning, area records, construction, agricultural fencing, solar panel installation – roof area estimation, trip planning.

Studio Noframe, play.google.com

Dedicated 3D Tablet

Capture and review 3D images in the field

The EyesMap tablet is a versatile instrument for modeling 3D scenes indoors and outdoors. It provides results while working in the field with real-time measurements. The tablet has a stereocamera, depth sensor scanner, GPS and inertial measureent unit. It also supports external cameras and other topographic instruments. Applications include crime scene investigation, archaeology and architecture documentation, as-built measurements and inspections, industrial and civil maintenance.

eCapture, www.ecapture.es

Handheld Collector

Entry-level GNSS device for GIS

The TDC100 handheld data collector is an entry-level GNSS device for a variety of geographic information system (GIS) applications. It combines both smartphone and ruggedized data collection capabilities in a single, mobile device. The Android-based TDC100 can run commercially available or in-house developed applications on a professional, IP-67 ruggedized platform with a sunlight readable display and user replaceable batteries. The built-in GNSS receiver also provides real-time accuracy. It supports GPS, GLONASS and BeiDou, as well as satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) capabilities.

Trimble, www.trimble.com

UAV

Reconnaissance Kit

Situational awareness for disaster relief

The Digital Mapping Reconnaissance Toolkit (DMRT) provides real-time reconnaissance for disaster relief and other time-sensitive situations. . It is a custom configuration of cameras, laser rangefinder, GPS unit and software all linked through the Red Hen VMS-333 multiplexing system. Users can create up-to-date orthomosaic maps and 3D models, as well as geotag reference points in impacted areas without a time lag. Users can create search patterns and map with situational awareness. Both modular aerial and land-based solutions are available

Red Hen Systems, www.redhensystems.com

UAV Backpack

Intelligent Obstacle Navigation

The Typhoon H UAV with Intel RealSense Technology comes with a factory installed Intel RealSense R200 Camera and quadcore Intel Atom processor, an ST16 controller with a Wizard controller for dual operator mode, two batteries and extra propellers, all packed in a custom designed backpack. RealSense Technology enables Typhoon H to fly autonomously, intelligently navigating around objects. The Intel RealSense R200 Camera and the Atom processor work seamlessly with the flight-control firmware to add intelligent obstacle navigation. With a combination of specialized cameras and sensors, this Intel system maps and learns its environment in 3D, recognizing each obstacle, planning an alternative route, and safely navigating around it — an advancement over ultrasonic collision prevention, which automatically stops short of obstacles but cannot model the environment or intelligently reroute around obstacles. The module also adds downward facing sensors to improve stability, enabling flight indoors or outdoors close to the ground, even with poor GPS reception.

Yuneec International, www.yuneec.com

Intelligence Platform

Insight for complex missions

Mission Insight provides UAS operators in deployed situations with a common operating picture in a customized graphical interface. The commercial off-the-shelf application processes and analyzes large streams of data from disparate sources in real-time. It ensures real-time, in-depth data access for mission-critical events even in remote environments or low-bandwidth situations. Complex data filtering, advanced processing and timing techniques enable Mission Insight to prioritize data and allow transmission as low as 2400 baud. The complete information management solution —including archival and replay capabilities in addition to the correlation, fusion and analytical tools — aid in training, post-operation analysis, incident investigation and review of operational effectiveness.

Simulyze, www.simulyze.com

Multi-Spectral Camera

Situational awareness for disaster relief

Sequoia is a small, light multispectral UAS sensor that captures images of crops across four highly defined, visible and non-visible spectral bands, plus RGB imagery. Sequoia is fully compatible with the eBee Ag and other eBee platforms via senseFly’s proprietary Integration Kit. It has four 1.2 megapixel sensors (near-infrared, red-edge, red and green) plus one 16 megapixel RGB sensor, providing multispectral and RGB imagery from a single flight. An upward-facing Sunshine Sensor automatically calibrates Sequoia’s multispectral sensors for accurate imagery, whatever the light conditions. The camera unit can be configured over Wi-Fi and has 64-GB of built-in storage; the Sunshine Sensor has GPS, an IMU, a magnetometer and SD card slot

senseFly, www.sensefly.com

August 1, 2016
Into the cold zone: UAV platform flies high in Antarctica

In February, mechatronics lead Kevin Bass of Intuitive Machines and contracted pilot Mike Laible successfully flew multiple runs with an unmanned aerial vehicle platform, Tiburon Jr., on the coast of Antarctica.

The long-range Tiburon Jr. takes Antarctic ice sheet studies to new heights.

From Wilkins Aerodrome in the southeast, the team launched Tiburon Jr. and collected valuable testing and environmental data. Battling harsh weather and constantly changing conditions, the team flew the UAV several times, allowing tests of all aspects of its platform.

“These flights provided us with valuable insights into cold-weather flight characteristics,” Bass said. “We successfully demonstrated that our onboard flight system is hardened the proper amount for the harsh environment.”

The onboard software also proved to be robust as it dealt with sensors whose response to the extreme conditions was not previously known.

With an 80-knot cruise speed and a 15-minute assembly, deploying a Tiburon Jr. UAV saved time and is significantly safer than manned flights in hazardous environments such as Antarctica, Bass explained.

Tiburon Jr. can be assembled in 15 minutes, an important feature in extreme environments.

The carbon-fiber Tiburon Jr. has a swappable nose cone, enabling a modular ISR sensor pod including visible, infrared and multispectral options. A remote ground station can accompany the ground transportation trailer for a portable stand-alone solution. Aircraft operations can be fully autonomous or man-in-the-loop.

The flight was conducted in cooperation with the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics and ICECAP (Investigating the Cryospheric Evolution of the Central Antarctic Plate).

For its climate change studies, ICECAP currently uses an upgraded World War II era DC-3 with a suite of geophysical instruments to map the thickness of the ice sheet and measure the texture, composition, density and topography of rocks below the ice.

Beginning in summer 2017–18, Tiburon Junior’s big brother, Tiburon, will join the survey team.

July 31, 2016
Helping the blind see: UAV mapping turns UNESCO site into 3D model

The ancient city-kingdom of Kourion on the southwestern coast of Cyprus can now be “seen” by those with impaired vision.

Kourion, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Paphos, was once an important urban center. While most of the archaeological remains — including several buildings with well conserved floor mosaics — date to the Roman and Early Byzantine periods, the most ancient finds connect to settlements and tombs of the Ceramic Neolithic period (circa 5500-4000 BCE).

A tactile map: In summer 2015, sections of the virtual 3D model, including the amphitheater, were printed in 3D and displayed in the visitor center with Braille explanations, providing an interactive history to those with visual impairments.

British drone manufacturer QuestUAV, in cooperation with the Cyprus University of Technology, acquired high-resolution aerial images of Kourion Archaeological Park with a surveying drone, and then created a virtual 3D model from the images with Pix4Dmapper Pro.

The QuestUAV team (a pilot and laptop commander) flew over 100 hectare of the archaeological park at 400 feet with a Q-200 Surveyor drone equipped with a Sony A6000 camera and a 16mm wide-angle lens, taking 330 aerial photographs during a 20-minute, fully autonomous flight.

The automatic camera trigger and the gimbaled camera system enabled acquisition of pin-sharp pictures, even at wind speeds of up to 40 kilometers per hour.

The images have a ground sampling distance of 2.5 centimeters with an overlap of 80 percent in flight direction and 65 percent sidelap. During the flight, the Q-200 Surveyor recorded the GPS coordinates of each camera position in a log file, allowing for image geo-location.

The entire survey took no longer than an afternoon.

Aerial view of the ampitheatre.

July 25, 2016
Launchpad: OEM, transportation and survey/mapping products

OEM

Grandmaster Clock

All-in-one time-and-frequency master time and clock server

Spectracom’s VelaSync time server and grandmaster clock.

When the VelaSync time server platform was introduced in 2014, it met the needs of financial trading networks’ move to 10 gigabit-per-second networking. Now available with 40-GbE network interfaces, it offers high-performance synchronization for time-sensitive networks. Matching network speeds between timing and data on a single low-latency high-throughput network enhances synchronization accuracy and eliminates queuing delays and hidden time errors caused by slower connections. The availability of a network timing appliance with 40-GbE interfaces benefits any deployment of critical network infrastructure at high data rates.

Spectracom, www.spectracom.com

Multi-Band Antenna

Triple band plus L-Band correction services

The TW3970 / TW3965 antennas have superior cross polarization rejection to enhance multi path signal rejection, tight phase center variation and an excellent axial ratio. The TW3970 is a pole mount or through-hole mount antenna; the TW3965 is an embeddable form. Bothemploy Tallysman’s Accutenna technology and are capable of receiving GPS L1/L2/L5, GLONASS G1/G2/G5, BeiDou B1/B2, Galileo E1/E5a+b plus L-band correction services (1164 MHz to 1254 MHz + 1525MHz to 1606 MHz). The antennas are designed for precision agriculture, autonomous vehicles and other precision applications. The ability of the antennas to access L-band correction services extends its utility to a wider range of applications.

Tallysman, www.Tallysman.com

Inertial Navigation

Systems for a variety of unmanned applications

VectorNav’s new Tactical Series

The Tactical Series of inertial navigation systems (INS) is a next-generation family for high performance. Built on a common tactical-grade proprietary micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) inertial sensing core, the Tactical Series includes the VN-110 inertial measurement unit and attitude heading reference system (IMU/AHRS), the VN-210 GPS-aided INS (GPS/INS), and the VN-310 dual-antenna GPS/INS. The Tactical Series offers the same functionality and features as the Industrial Series for integrators of SWaP-C (size, weight, power and cost) constrained manned and unmanned systems. The Tactical Series takes advantage of the latest developments in solid-state MEMS technology to incorporate a three-axis gyro with <1°/hour in-run bias stability, leading to an attitude accuracy of 1 to 2 milliradian. In addition to the improved IMU core, the Tactical Series enclosure is designed to DO-160G airborne standards and rated IP68 for deployment in harsh and extreme environments.

VectorNav Technologies, www.vectornav.com

Autopilot Sensors

Plug n’ fly control system for UAV, UAS, USV and UGV systems

Veronte Autopilot is a miniaturized fail-safe avionics system with an embedded suite of sensors and processors for advanced control of unmanned systems. The OEM version weighs 90 grams, and the version with an aluminum enclosure weighs 200 grams. Both versions include a datalink radio. The control system is fully configurable — payload, platform layout, control phases, control channels and the user interface layout can be user defined, making it cost effective for a wide range of professional applications. The embedded GPS module offers RTK-like positioning with centimeter precision. It meets DO-178C / ED-12, DO-254 and DO-160G aircract regulations.

Embention, www.embention.com

Transportation

Digital Maps

Critical coverage for autonomous driving development

TomTom’s HD (high-definition) Map and RoadDNA are highly accurate digital map products helping automated vehicles precisely locate themselves on the road and plan maneuvers, even when traveling at high speeds. These technologies are being rolled out in strategic geographies and are the subject of key partnerships with other automotive suppliers. TomTom now offers more than 122,000 kilometers of HD Map coverage globally, including Interstates in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Vermont; Interstates and highways in California, Michigan and Nevada; and the Autobahn network in Germany.

TomTom, www.TomTom.com

V2X GNSS Antenna

Applications range from infrastructure to infotainment

Smart Antennas by Laird Technologies combine antenna elements and radio receivers in the same robust package. Compared to traditional architectures, the Smart Antenna provides signifcant performance improvement and system-wide cost savings. Custom solutions are available, including 4G LTE cellular, GNSS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, as well as the emerging dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) technology with a 1,000-meter range for V2X. Applications include navigation systems, vehicle-to-vehicle communication,vehicle to infrastructure communication and infotainment. Operating temperature range is –40 C to 85° C.

Laird Technologies, www.lairdtech.com

SURVEY & MAPPING

USV Echo Sounder

Single-beam system for shallow water surveys

The CEESCOPE-USV is a waterproof one-box echo sounder, GNSS and broadband radio telemetry package that can be installed on practically any remotely operated unmanned surface vehicle (USV). The self-contained unit requires no interface with the USV, eliminating challenges of instrument data integration on the vehicle. Using real-time broadband radio telemetry, detailed 20-Hz dual-frequency soundings, up to 20-Hz RTK GNSS and a 3200-sample-per-ping digital echogram are available to the USV operator on shore via the CEE-LINK radio base station. Data from the CEESCOPE-USV telemetry link allows the operator to steer the USV along the survey line like in any manned boat survey. The CEESCOPE-USV offers users a range to their vehicle of more than 1,000 meters.

Cee HydroSystems, www.ceehydrosystems.com

Airborne Sensor

Expanded functionality

The new ALS80-UP airborne sensor enables even more flexible data acquisition with extended range measurement capability. It takes advantage of the dual-output optical system pioneered in the ALS70 and enhanced in the originl ALS80. The AL80-UP has higher Multiple Pulse in Air (MPiA) operation settings, enabling data collection in extreme terrains with minimal variation in swath width due to terrain elevation variations. The ALS80-UP works perfectly in a wide variety of scenarios, including wide-area mapping, detail mapping from high-flying heights and detail mapping over mountainous terrain. With its expanded maximum range, the system has demonstrated good results at up to 6,000 meters above terrain and with terrain relief of up to 2,300 meters.

Leica Geosystems, www.leica-geosystems.com

Repeater

Receive RTK corrections via radio

The Settop Repeater allows rover-RTK network users in areas of low or no GSM coverage to receive differential corrections via radio. It can connect to any external radio model on the market for precision agriculture systems or machine control. Repeater field application versatility is managed by an intuitive software controlled using a touchscreen. It can also be used for land surveying and marine work. It reduces the need for an RTK base station and offers flexible field configuration.

Setup Survey, www.settopsurvey.com

Graphics-Based Data Collection

Expanded toolsets and capabilities for speed and accuracy

FieldGenius 8 software takes advantage of the high-power processors, high-definition displays and larger memory in modern Windows Mobile powered data collectors and Windows 7 powered tablets. It provides tight control through expanded toolsets. Features include easy GNSS local transformation with the ability to export and import localization files; enhanced DXF support; advanced point averaging, which allows users to take multiple GNSS measurements and calculate an averaged position; support for integrated inertial sensors; native unicode support;and simplified GIS mapping. FieldGenius 8 also has improved road alignments, an onboard basic measurement mode, dynamic screen rotation and expanded ASCII export options. Supported coordinate systems, geoids, instruments and data collectors have been expanded, making it easier to integrate into existing survey operations.

MicroSurvey Software, www.microsurvey.com

UAV

Imaging Camera

Thermal and radiometric functionality

The FLIR Vue Pro R adds radiometric functionality to the Vue Pro camera, giving drone operators the ability to save pictures for post-flight image analysis and accurately measure the temperatures of individual image pixels. Calibrated radiometric imaging allows it to capture the temperature data of every pixel in an image. When saved in Radiometric JPEG format, still images can be imported into FLIR Tools software for detailed analysis and reporting. FLIR Tools, a free download on FLIR.com, lets drone operators adjust settings including object emissivity, background temperature, target distance, relative humidity and thermal sensitivity, as well as assigning various color palettes for each image. The Vue Pro R records digital thermal video, along with radiometric thermal still images, to an on-board micro-SD card. For applications such as electrical inspection, infrastructure assessment and precision mapping, the onboard recording allows operators to capture high-quality thermal data for post processing and analysis.

Flir Systems, www.flir.com

Real-Time Reconnaissance

Reconnaissance for disaster relief, time sensitive situations

The Digital Mapping Reconnaissance Toolkit (DMRT) creates up-to-date orthomosaic maps and 3D models. Users can fly a drone to survey the landscape for real-time solutions, and geotag reference points in impacted areas without a time lag. Seeing what the drone sees, pilots can create search patterns and map with situational awareness. Modular aerial and land-based solutions are available.

Red Hen Systems, www.redhensystems.com

July 20, 2016
Navigation progress for indoors and UAVs
I didn’t get to this year’s IEEE/ION PLANS meeting in Savannah, Georgia, in April, but I did find a few papers that interested me. You might have read past articles of mine that looked at the challenges of indoor navigation. And, of course, unmanned vehicles technology also is one of my favorites.

So, I was pleased to find papers that addressed a few key issues for me:
- An approach that employs cooperative smartphones to achieve about 3 meters indoor location.
- Another look at the problems in using smartphone embedded GNSS for RTK positioning.
- Relative positioning between UAVs using GNSS, radio and inertial, and also adding image processing in a GNSS denied environment.
- Analysis of encounter-alerting issues for UAV detect and avoid systems.
Indoor navigation

Indoor navigation is an area which is seeing quite intense research, and several companies have now put initial products on the market. The general approach has been to use sensors within smartphones combined with radio-frequency (RF) signals which seem to be readily available in stores and malls which indoor location is finding commercial applications.

If a position can be generated by an internal GNSS receiver within the phone in an outdoor setting prior to entering a building, the trick is to carry that position forward as GNSS signals disappear when the user moves away from the entry area. Inertial sensors in the phone are usually not accurate enough to do this job on their own, so ranging using RF from Bluetooth and Wi-Fi transmitters/beacons may be integrated to provide a position solution. Magnetic sensors in the phone have also been used to detect fixed metal structures within a building and use this data to aid location determination.

The problem is that you need an up-to-date database of where the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are located, and it has been taking a lot of work to map or “fingerprint” the interiors of buildings — and guess what, these “beacons” often are moved after a mall or store is mapped, so RF ranging can become quite inaccurate.

So, fearless investigators from the University of Buckingham and University of Northampton in the U.K. have come up with the concept of using ranging between cooperative smartphones to aid each other and achieve location accuracies of 5-10 meters.

While outdoors with good GNSS position, the inertial sensors in each phone are calibrated, each phone gets position using its internal GPS and a network is formed between the phones using their relative positions. Then when a phone goes inside the building, step counting is used to maintain relative positioning in the network. This can result in around 3 meters positioning for the interior phone.

Well, yes, not everyone has two other buddies waiting around so one guy can go in and find the classic comic store, but for applications such as firefighters, urgent/health care, and security/police, this approach might work well.

Cooperative smartphone location overview. (From “UNILS: Unconstrained Indoors Localization Scheme based on cooperative smartphones networking with onboard inertial, Bluetooth and GNSS devices,” H.S. Maghdid, A. Al-Sherbaz, N. Aljawad and I.A. Lami.)

Another paper looked hard at the options there might be to resolve problems with GPS performance which has previously precluded running RTK on smartphones. If we could achieve centimeter positioning on a mass-market basis, many current applications which are inhibited by cost, could become possible and revolutionize even the way we live. People have already used external solutions to solve some of the problems, but leading researchers at Texas U, with Broadcom and Radiosense support, may have come up with a self-contained solution.

It is known that there are issues with the capability of the GNSS chip and oscillator components in smartphones — the observables they produce are not currently of sufficient quality to sustain RTK performance. So these researchers worked with Broadcom, who supplied them with an Android smartphone, which provided access to raw code and carrier-phase outputs and was also able to process these measurements internally.

A smartphone’s Android software stack with the GNSS components and data flow highlighted. (From “On the Feasibility of cm-Accurate Positioning via a Smartphone’s Antenna and GNSS Chip,” T.E. Humphreys, M. Murrian, F. van Diggelen, S. Podshivalov, K.M. Pesyna, Jr.)

Carrier phase measurements in smartphones suffer from five anomalies not found in survey-grade GNSS receivers — but four of these can be fixed in post-processing. The remaining phase measurement error increases with time and precludes RTK centimeter-level positioning — it could be the result of round-off error due to processing limitations. Otherwise it seems possible that carrier-phase differential GNSS positioning might be achievable.

However, the researchers also studied antenna performance and found that its gain pattern was significantly affected by strong local multipath. The impact is that deep, unpredictable fading and large phase error will compromise centimeter-accurate positioning.

So we’re not quite there yet, but with a new smartphone version showing up almost every other year, it is always possible that researchers and manufacturers will eventually evolve designs in the right direction, and ultimately solve the problem.

Unmanned aerial vehicles

Meanwhile, researchers at West Virginia University have been investigating methods to maintain relative positioning between UAVs in flight. With drone “swarms” and cooperative drone missions becoming more common, if a simple method could be derived to maintain relative separation, these applications could become more prevalent, especially in a GPS denied environment.

So, with only noisy ranging radios between UAVs, and an onboard navigation system solution on each vehicle, the researchers set about developing an algorithm which can maintain relative position. The solution is complicated by the geometry between the UAVs, how often range measurements are made, and the noise in those measurements. To constrain these variables, the study was run assuming the UAVs travel at the same altitude.

The study concluded that— provided the UAVs travel in the same direction, parallel to each other — that their algorithm could find a solution all the time. The focus of the study appears to be on determining hearing and relative bearing between the vehicles and results were varied depending on the frequency of range measurements, the amount of noise and the geometry. So a few steps forward along the path towards making drones work together in a hostile environment where GPS is jammed. (See “Cooperative Relative Localization for Moving UAVs with Single Link Range Measurements,” J. Strader, Y.Gu, J.N. Gross, M. De Petrillo, J. Hardy.)

Another study on the same problem of maintaining relative position between drones was also undertaken by West Virginia University, Systems & Technology Research and the Air Force Research Laboratory. However, their solution didn’t only use ranging between vehicles. It took advantage of inertial measurements on each drone, computer vision calculations derived from downwards looking cameras on both UAVs, and finally magnetometer measurements were also added into a Kalman filter solution.

UAV platform payload diagram and assumptions. (From “Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Relative Navigation in GPS Denied Environments,” J. Hardy, J. Strader, J.N. Gross, Y. Gu, M. Keck, J. Douglas, C.N.Taylor.)

With several additional sensor measurements, the researchers were able to predict that relative positioning could be maintained in a GPS denied environment. They also considered ranging radio, magnetometer and vision update rates, and the performance/update rate of various quality inertial sensors. The principle objective is to enable accurate target hand-off between drones as one approaches the other. Overall, they found their model could support 10-meter-level position and 0.5 degree accuracy.

Finally, for safe operation of UAVs in the U.S. National Airspace System (NAS), minimum Detect and Avoid (DAA) standards for small to medium size UAVs are being developed for operations within drone-accessible airspace. DAA has to provide the “see and avoid” for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) that pilots of manned aircraft use to avoid other aircraft. So surveillance sensor information needs to supply the UAV and the remote Pilot in Command (PIC) operator with the situational awareness needed to remain well clear of other aircraft.

Part of what DAA should provide are alerts working to universal standards for all UAS.

Zones used in alert evaluation. (From “Analysis of Alerting Performance for Detect and Avoid of Unmanned Aircraft Systems,” S. Smearcheck, S. Calhoun, W. Adams, J. Kresge, F. Kunzi.)

The research presented by CAL Analytics and General Atomics (with technical support and guidance by RTCA committee SC-228 and NASA) outlined the evaluation alerts generated when other aircraft are anticipated to penetrate into a well-clear volume around a UAV.

Alerts can be “missed,” “late” and “early” — all of which can impair DAA performance and safety and which need to characterized and mitigated. Sensors currently under consideration for use in DAA include Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B), active surveillance transponder and airborne radar — this study looked at ADS-B and radar and the trade-off that they provide related to desirable and undesirable alerts.This analysis will likely feed into the development of UAS DAA alerting standards and requirements.

Typical DAA tracker approach. (From “Analysis of Alerting Performance for Detect and Avoid of Unmanned Aircraft Systems,” S. Smearcheck, S. Calhoun, W. Adams, J. Kresge, F. Kunzi.)

Radar surveillance errors were found to increase the probability of Missed, Late, Short, Early and Incorrect Alerts, all of which is bad news for radar. ADS-B surveillance errors increased the probability of Short, Early, and Incorrect Alerts. However, ADS-B did not lower performance as much as radar — better news for ADS-B. All levels of surveillance errors were seen to increase the amount of alerting jitter, with radar seeing the most significant undesirable effects.

Guardian UAS used in DAA tests.

Highly reliable, proven DAA systems are likely an essential part of the safety system for UAS if they are to become a regular part of operations in the NAS. General Atomics has tested a DAA system including GA’s Due Regard Radar (DRR) aboard a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Guardian Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), a maritime variant of the Predator B UAV. The DAA system also includes Honeywell’s Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) and Sensor Tracker, specifically designed for DAA.

Schiebel Camcopter S-100 demonstrating detect and avoid system.

And, also in December of last year, a Schiebel Camcopter S-100 flew demonstration flights with an NLR-developed AirScout Detect and Avoid System. Two helicopters flew “intruder” profiles against the UAV during the demonstration. The Camcopter S-100 flew several scenarios and “unexpectedly” encountered an intruder aircraft. The system determined in real time the corrective action to maintain separation from the intruder aircraft.

So, progress on indoor navigation, research towards running RTK on smartphones, relative positioning between UAVs, and advances in Detect and Avoid solutions for UAVs. Something of a mixed bag, but all promise further progress around different solutions for a number of market navigation segments.
July 19, 2016
Unmanned Aircraft Navigation

Sponsored by: Hemisphere GNSS
Original Broadcast Date: Thursday, November 21, 2013
Moderator: Tony Murfin, Editor, Professional OEM newsletter
Speakers: Olivier Casabianca, Business Area Manager, Trimble GNSS OEM; Hal Adams, Co-founder/Chief Operating Officer, Accord Technology; Neil Gerein, Defense Product Manager, NovAtel; Eric Brewer, Senior Systems Engineer, Rockwell Collins; and Howard William Loewen, President, MicroPilot, Inc.
Summary: In recent years, there has been explosive growth in the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) market segment, with most on-board navigation systems relying on GNSS or GNSS with inertial aiding. As military budgets decline, interest in civilian commercial applications is growing rapidly. The FAA recently awarded special type certification to two UAVs for commercial Arctic operations, and the industry is now poised for the opening of the regulation floodgates to address a growing commercial demand. In this webcast, we will hear from some of the industry leaders in GNSS-based navigation for UAVs, in both the military and civilian sectors: they will tell us what they are doing in UAV navigation and where they see this exciting market going.

July 15, 2016
Data Capture for GeoIntelligence

Sponsored by: Navcom
Broadcast Date: Thursday, May 8, 2014
Moderator: Art Kalinski, Editor, GeoIntelligence Insider Newsletter
Speakers: John Ciampa, CEO, Alta; Ted Ralston, Executive Program Manager, Soft Power Solutions; Paul Smith, General Manager, Cyclomedia; Dr. Peter VanAmburgh, Business Development, IIF Data
Summary: A steep-curve learning session on the current explosion of capture systems, made possible with cheap, small GPS and inertial measurement units. New oblique capture systems, improvements in 3D model capture, very accurate ground capture (see the Februrary GeoIntelligence newsletter column on Cyclomedia), high-resolution drifting balloons (AltaDrifter.com), cheap silent aerostats, unmanned autonomous air vehicles (UAVs), disposable UAVs, a new manned parafoil all-terrain vehicle (ATV) — yes, flying ATVs! — and more. Look into the future of data capture, because it’s coming at you fast, right now!
View Ted Ralston’s launch demo video from the webinar
View Dr. Peter VanAmburgh’s “Stalker” video from the webinar

July 15, 2016
GNSS Interference Detection and Mitigation for UAV Navigation

Sponsored by: Loctronix Corporation
Broadcast Date: Thursday, May 22, 2014
Host: Dr. Michael B. Mathews, CEO and Founder, Loctronix Corporation
Speakers: Franck Boynton, Vice President and CTO, NavtechGPS; Peter F. MacDoran, Chief Scientist, Loctronix Corporation; Michael O. Davies, Senior Engineer, Loctronix Corporation
Summary: The need for robust, highly-reliable, navigation information in GNSS-denied environments is fast becoming a critical issue for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) / unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in both commercial and military applications. Total reliance on GNSS can lead to disastrous consequences when signals are interfered with or obstructed. Low-cost, non-SAASM, GPS sensors are particularly vulnerable to jamming and interference. Attendees will learn how robust, cost-effective Hybrid GNSS Technologies (HGT) offer unique capabilities for UAV navigation in environments where traditional GPS receivers may fail. Combining signals of opportunity (SoOps), inertial sensing, and multi-frequency GNSS using Spectral Compression Positioning, assures continuous navigation by detecting typical GNSS interference and mitigating their effects through alternative navigation means.
Download a PDF of the webinar slides

July 15, 2016
New Frontiers in Unmanned Flight: Hey You, UAV!

Sponsored by: NavCom
Broadcast date: Thursday, May 21, 2015
Moderator: Alan Cameron, Editor-In-Chief and Publisher, GPS World
Speakers: Donald Chance Mark Jr., Aviation Attorney, Fafinski Mark & Johnson; Tony Murfin, Professional OEM & UAV Editor, GPS World; James Spicer
UAV Researcher, Stanford University; Adrien Perkins, UAV Researcher, Stanford GPS Laboratory; Peter Cosyn, Director of Research & Development, Gatewing, a Trimble company
Summary: Explosive growth in the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) market segment and an unsettled regulatory framework make for a confusing picture. Our experts will clarify the confusion, explain product design trends and describe in detail the operation of one new micro-UAV in particular. With the industry poised for the opening of the regulation floodgates to address a growing commercial demand, we will hear from developers, both independent and at large GNSS companies, and from a legal expert who will discuss today’s and tomorrow’s likely regulatory framework. Attendees also will learn how robust, cost-effective Hybrid GNSS Technologies offer unique capabilities for UAV navigation in environments where traditional GPS receivers may fail.
Tony Murfin answers submitted questions in this post-webinar report.

July 15, 2016
New Product Trends in UAV, Survey, Mapping, and Geospatial Data Collection and Analysis

Sponsored by: NavCom
Broadcast date: Thursday, October 16, 2014
On-Demand Available Until: Friday, October 16, 2015
Speakers: Alan Cameron, Group Publisher, GPS World and Geospatial Solutions, and Eric Gakstatter, Editor, Survey Scene & Geospatial Solutions Monthly
Summary: UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) are taking over the surveying industry, thanks to their ever-improving sensors and the fact that they are getting lighter and can therefore remain in the air for longer. They complete surveying and inspection tasks that would otherwise be difficult to tackle, and do so with impressive cost-efficiency. UAV trends and technology were among the focal points at the InterGeo conference in Berlin in early October.

July 15, 2016