This video was acquired by a small quadcopter (DJI Vision+) during a TERN AusCover field campaign (2 – 6 Feb 2015) in the old growth forest of southern Tasmania. The footage is of the Warra flux tower, which towers at 80 m over a 50-60 m tall canopy of wet eucalyptus forest. The data was collected as part of an airborne hyperspectral campaign and field campaign to measure forest properties. See the following link this TERN media release for more information.
Darren Turner (PhD student in the TerraLuma group), Prof. Steven de Jong (Utrecht University), and I just published a new paper in the journal Remote Sensing. The study looks at the use of UAV structure-from-motion (SfM) and image correlation techniques to monitor landslide deformation.
Turner, D., Lucieer, A., and de Jong, S.M. (2015). Time series analysis of landslide dynamics using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Remote Sensing. 7(2): 1736 – 1757; doi:10.3390/rs70201736 | Download PDF
We developed a gimbal stabilisation system for the Headwall Photonics micro-Hyperspec. This brushless gimbal actively stabilises the pushbroom scanner to achieve smoother image acquisition. We also re-designed the CameraLink data recording system, and integrated the micro-Hyperspec with a dual frequency GPS unit, MEMS-based IMU, and machine vision camera (all sensors synchronised). The video below demonstrates the stabilisation of the gimbal. The wires need to be loose to reduce the resistance on the gimbal.
The original HyperUAS system is described in our publication here: Lucieer, A., Malenovsky, Z., Veness, T., Wallace, L. (2014). HyperUAS – Imaging spectroscopy from a multi-rotor unmanned aircraft system. Journal of Field Robotics, 31(4): 571-590. doi:10.1002/rob.21508 | Download PDF
The system shown in the video aims to overcome some of the limitations of the HyperUAS setup.
Late last year, we tested the Devourer D130, an X8 mega-quad with 28″ props. Very successful test with a 3 kg dummy payload, getting good flight times of 20+ minutes. This platform will be used for our heavier sensors, such as the micro-Hyperspec and LiDAR.
Dr Josh Kelcey who did his PhD in the TerraLuma research group (2010 – 2014) graduated on 18 December 2014. Congratulations to Josh on completing a fantastic PhD thesis! The title of his PhD thesis is: “Object-based image analysis of ultra- ne spatial resolution imagery acquired over a saltmarsh environment by an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS)”. One of the journal papers that came out of his thesis looked at the radiometric correction of the Tetracam mini-MCA, and can be found here: Kelcey, J., & Lucieer, A. (2012). Sensor Correction of a 6-Band Multispectral Imaging Sensor for UAV Remote Sensing. Remote Sensing (UAV special issue), 4(5), 1462-1493. doi:10.3390/rs4051462 | Download PDF
This is a first test flight of the DJI S1000 at the University farm. The video was taken by Dr Guy William flying a DJI Phantom2 Vision+. The S1000 was flown by Darren Turner.