Mapping with Unmanned Airborne Systems (UAS)

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Kerry Lynch
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1 Mapping with Unmanned Airborne Systems (UAS) February 13, 2014 Engineering Architecture Design-Build Surveying GeoSpatial Solutions

2 Today s Agenda Introductions / Objectives Current UAS Regulations (FAA) UAS Components & Types UAS Navigation Sensor Payloads UAS Software Inspection / Surveillance vs. Mapping UAS Outdoor Mapping Deliverables UAS Indoor Mapping Industry Forecast / Future Trends PREXXXX 2

3 Today s Objective Provide an objective and practical review of current unmanned airborne mapping capabilities PREXXXX 3

Corporate Overview Corporate headquarters: Greenwood Village, Colorado Founded in 1955; employee-owned $110M annual revenue (FY13) > 480 employees at 15 domestic + 4 international offices Market

4 Corporate Overview Corporate headquarters: Greenwood Village, Colorado Founded in 1955; employee-owned $110M annual revenue (FY13) > 480 employees at 15 domestic + 4 international offices Market Focus Energy National Security Life Sciences Sustainable Infrastructure Market Sector Teams Infrastructure (Geospatial, Survey, Water & Civil Engineering) High Performance Facilities Energy Life Sciences Nuclear Services & Technology PREXXXX 4

Presenter Bio Bill Emison Senior Account Manager (Commercial Accounts) for the Geospatial Solutions (GSS) team Also provide support as Corporate Communications Specialist for Sustainable

5 Presenter Bio Bill Emison Senior Account Manager (Commercial Accounts) for the Geospatial Solutions (GSS) team Also provide support as Corporate Communications Specialist for Sustainable Infrastructure team; MARS Product Manager Geospatial professional since 1993 with experience in solutions consulting; software & service sales; technical marketing and communications Employed by Merrick s GSS team since January PREXXXX 5

6 UAS Drones PREXXXX 6

7 Jackass ALERT!!! FAA warns public against shooting guns at drones "Shooting at an unmanned aircraft could result in criminal or civil liability, just as would firing at a manned airplane." PREXXXX 7

Current US (FAA) UAS Regulations Currently, a Certificate of Authorization (COA) is required to operate an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in US national airspace Only federal, state, or local agencies

8 Current US (FAA) UAS Regulations Currently, a Certificate of Authorization (COA) is required to operate an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in US national airspace Only federal, state, or local agencies are considered for COA awards FAA test sites (proving grounds) have been awarded to Virginia, Texas, Alaska, New York, North Dakota and Nevada; will conduct critical research into the certification and operational requirements necessary to safely integrate UAS into the national airspace over the next several years Remote Control (RC) hobbyists can operate remotely controlled vehicles for recreational uses only: Not allowed for commercial business use of any kind cannot fly to make money! RC vehicle cannot exceed 400 feet above ground level (AGL) RC vehicle cannot interfere with any type of air traffic - must be flown away from airports and air traffic FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (H.R. 658) Signed into law on February 14, 2012 by President Obama This bill orders the FAA to figure out how to integrate commercial UAV usage into the U.S. National Airspace System (NAS) Also under the bill, the FAA is required to provide military, commercial, and privately-owned drones with expanded access to U.S. airspace by Sep. 30, 2015 That means permitting unmanned drones controlled by remote operators on the ground--also called unmanned airborne systems (UAS) or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)--to fly in the same airspace as airlines, cargo planes, business jets and private aircraft. More information can be found at PREXXXX 8

9 UAS Components Aircraft Navigation System Unmanned Airborne Systems (UAS) Sensor Software PREXXXX 9

10 UAS Types Fixed wing Efficient for area/site mapping Typically flies racetrack or mowing the yard patterns Best for persistent surveillance (orbital loitering) Rotary helicopter or multicopter (ex. quad / hexa / octo copters) Best for slow, stabilized collection Efficient for corridor mapping Others blimps, kites, gliders PREXXXX 10

11 UAS Aircraft Comparisons PREXXXX 11

12 Hawkeye RQ-84Z PREXXXX 12

UAS Navigation Remotely controlled Third

transmission soda straw view, still high

Accurate digital surface models required

13 UAS Navigation Remotely controlled Third person view requires constant line-of-sight not acceptable, too much risk First person view requires video transmission soda straw view, still high risk for collision with obstruction (tree branch, power line, etc.) Pre-defined flight plan (auto pilot) Accurate digital surface models required Fully autonomous - detect, sense, and avoid (DSA) obstacles for collision avoidance PREXXXX 13

14 UAS Sensor Payloads Video Imagery Thermal Magnetometer Purpose driven remote sensing tools Radioactive measurement Gas detection Acoustic detection Signal detection LiDAR PREXXXX 14

15 USACE Buckeye LiDAR UAS continued PREXXXX 15

UAS Software Surveillance / Inspection Real-time video or image downlink Flight controls Primary flight display Camera controls Object tracking Video stabilization Waypoint navigation

16 UAS Software Surveillance / Inspection Real-time video or image downlink Flight controls Primary flight display Camera controls Object tracking Video stabilization Waypoint navigation Video or image post processing Mapping Flight planning Flight management Data download / coverage check APM and AT Surface model extraction Orthorectification Mosaicing Analysis PREXXXX 16

review later More emphasis on image/video gathering, less on geographic placement of data Typically used in

17 Surveillance / Inspection vs. Mapping Emphasis Duration Stabilization for zoom Some transmit real-time video/imagery, others store for review later More emphasis on image/video gathering, less on geographic placement of data Typically used in situations that are dull, distant, or dangerous Sensor types Imagery Video Products Non-georeferenced digital imagery Non-georeferenced digital video Possibly structure from motion (SFM) PREXXXX 17

18 Surveillance / Inspection Examples PREXXXX 18

UAS Outdoor Mapping Filling the gap between traditional topo surveying and the medium

Non-metric, Digital Cameras Medium Format, Metric, Digital Cameras Other Sensor Types

Imaging (HSI) Oblique Imagery Video Products Orthophoto Mosaics (Ortho) Digital

19 UAS Outdoor Mapping Filling the gap between traditional topo surveying and the medium and high altitude photogrammetry Sensor types Electro Optical (EO / RGB) Small Format, Non-metric, Digital Cameras Medium Format, Metric, Digital Cameras Other Sensor Types Color Infrared (CIR) Multi-Spectral Imagery (MSI) Thermal Infrared (TIR) Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI) Oblique Imagery Video Products Orthophoto Mosaics (Ortho) Digital Surface Model (DSM) Planimetric Map Products Change Detection Volumetrics 3D Modeling PREXXXX 19

20 UAS Outdoor Mapping Deliverables PREXXXX 20

21 UAS Indoor Mapping Autonomous Navigation Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) Real-time Sensor Processing Required Detect, Avoid, Collect Minimize Occlusions Products 3D Models 360 Panoramas Point Clouds CAD Files PREXXXX 21

that figure rivals the drone sales of the world s top aerospace companies (in units, of course, not dollars). And the personal drone industry is growing much faster.

22 Industry Forecasts Chris Anderson, Wired.com, June 2012: All told, there are probably around 1,000 new personal drones that take to the sky every month (3D Robotics, a company I cofounded, is shipping more than 100 ArduPilot Megas a week); that figure rivals the drone sales of the world s top aerospace companies (in units, of course, not dollars). And the personal drone industry is growing much faster. Teal Group market study World Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems 2011 PREXXXX 22 UAV spending is on pace to double during the next decade from current worldwide expenditures of $5.9 billion annually to $11.3 billion, totaling just more than $94 billion. The study suggests the United States will account for 77 percent of the research and development spending on UAV technology during the next decade and about 69 percent of the procurement. The UAV electro-optical/infrared sensors (EO/IRS) system market has entered a period of continuing steady growth. Teal Group estimates that U.S. spending alone on such systems will grow from $813 million in fiscal year 2011 to nearly $1.7 billion in fiscal year 2020.

23 Future Trends Consumers Lower cost Easier use more automation Integration into consumer products (like Google Earth) Professionals Larger (MP) and better (metric) cameras More variety of sensors LiDAR Hyperspectral Sensor fusion Automated and real time data processing Persistent surveillance Solar powered stratospheric platforms data relay various monitoring tasks Technology Fleets of multiple UAS via flocking and networking technologies Improvements in autonomous controls Detect, Sense, and Avoid (DSA) for collision avoidance 3D modeling for navigation Range imaging LiDAR Standardization of control system and common use between different kinds of UAV Improved stabilization Better fuel cells enabling longer flight times Miniaturization - micro UAS Automated in-flight decision making and actionable use What LiDAR was to terrain mapping 10+ years ago, unmanned aerial systems will be to aerial surveillance, inspection, and mapping in 5-10 years PREXXXX 23

24 Contact Information Merrick & Company: Unmanned Airborne Services: Bill Emison, Senior Account Manager Tel: (303) PREXXXX 24

LAUNCHING YOUR UNMANNED AIRCRAFT PROGRAM

LAUNCHING YOUR UNMANNED AIRCRAFT PROGRAM THE DARTDRONES TEAM UNMANNED AIRCRAFT APPLICATIONS AERIAL INSPECTIONS AERIAL INSPECTIONS Safer and faster alternative to visual inspection by an individual Damage