[meteorite-list] Sand Dunes and Meteorites

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From: dvail <dvail_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:02:33 2004
Message-ID: <001f01c1d7ca$e2f817c0$01011f0a_at_asgofc.com>

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

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Ok,

A little more on my idea of how to search for meteorites in relatively
high contrast, low noise areas like sand dunes. I realize that they
won't be as easy to automatically recognize as a 10 foot diameter shinny
black fusion crusted meteorite in the middle of an Antarctic ice field.
However I do believe the following method will work and it would be fun!

Low cost ultra miniature UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicle) sometimes called
MAVs (miniature aerial vehicle) are hand launched and belly landed and
have a range of about 50 miles. They can fly at an altitude of a few
feet to 1000 feet. They can be either battery or liquid fuel powered
(aerosol can). On board is a microcontroller, 4 mega-pixel digital
camera, GPS receiver, and 5 GHz 802.11a wireless LAN Interface capable
of transmitting 104 megabits per second. The wireless LAN Interface is
used for video transmission, streaming real-time telemetry and remote
control. Remote control can be preformed in real-time by a person
operating a laptop with remote control software comprised of a video
window and a 3d topo map showing the real-time GPS position of the UAV
and standard aeronautical controls (graphically simulated sticks,
indicators and gauges) The laptop computer is connected to an 802.11a
access point with an attached pitch and rotation controlled directional
high gain parabolic antenna positioned at a pre-selected strategic high
ground line of site vantage point. The UAV control program running on
the laptop can be configured to automatically execute a standard
systematic grid search pattern or an out and back modified grid/radial
pattern planed around the range characteristics of the UAV. During the
execution of the search pattern the laptop records a series of
overlapping snapshots stamped with GPS coordinate, UAV spatial
orientation, date/time, and other pertinent information. A
pixel-pattern discrimination program reviews the snapshots (Photoshop on
steroids). The program allows the user to graphically select targets
from a database of object photos and parametric deviation criteria. The
object database contains key information on each photographed object in
the database. The pixel pattern selection algorithm is adaptive and can
adjust itself based on various prevailing conditions such as
atmospheric, meteorological, light, shadow, time of day, spatial
orientation. It selects suspects. Suspect targets are manually
reviewed at high resolution. A larger, more sophisticated UAV with a
steerable zoom camera can be dispatched to the GPS coordinates for a
closer look at an interesting target. At that point, if things look
good I think it would be ok to hop in the old dune buggy (local land use
laws permitting) and have a look.

This method could be refined and improved with practice to perhaps find
meteorites in lower contrast higher noise areas.

Dan Vail

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<DIV><SPAN=20
class=3D452060108-30032002>Ok,</DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20
class=3D452060108-30032002> </DIV>
<DIV>A =
little more on my=20
idea of how to search for meteorites in relatively high contrast, low=20
noise areas like sand dunes.  I realize that they won't be as =
easy to=20
automatically recognize as a 10 foot diameter shinny black fusion =
crusted=20
meteorite in the middle of an Antarctic ice field.  However I do =
believe=20
the following method will work and it would be fun!</DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20
class=3D452060108-30032002> </DIV>
<DIV>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Low cost ultra miniature =
UAVs (unmanned=20
aerial vehicle) sometimes called MAVs (miniature aerial vehicle) are =
hand=20
launched and belly landed and =
have a=20
range of about 50 miles.  They can fly at an altitude of =
a few feet=20
to 1000 feet.  <SPAN=20
class=3D452060108-30032002>They can be either battery or liquid fuel =
powered=20
(aerosol can).  On board is a microcontroller, 4 =
mega-pixel=20
digital camera, GPS receiver, and 5=20
GHz 802.11a wireless LAN Interface capable of transmitting 104 =
megabits=20
per second.  The wireless =
LAN=20
Interface is used for video transmission, streaming real-time telemetry =
and=20
remote control.  Remote =
control can=20
be preformed in real-time by a person operating a laptop with remote =
control=20
software comprised of a video window and a 3d topo map showing the =
real-time GPS=20
position of the UAV and standard aeronautical controls (graphically=20
simulated sticks, indicators and=20
gauges)  The laptop =
computer=20
is connected to an 802.11a access point with an attached pitch and =
rotation=20
controlled directional high gain parabolic antenna positioned at a =
pre-selected=20
strategic high ground line of site vantage point.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  The UAV control program =
running on the=20
laptop can be configured to automatically execute a standard systematic =
grid=20
search pattern or an out and back modified=20
grid/radial pattern planed around the range characteristics of =
the=20
UAV.  During the execution =
of the=20
search pattern the laptop records a series of overlapping snapshots =
stamped with=20
GPS coordinate, UAV spatial orientation, date/time, and other pertinent=20
information.  A =
pixel-pattern=20
discrimination program reviews the snapshots (Photoshop on =
steroids).<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  The program allows the user to =

graphically select targets from a database of object photos and =
parametric=20
deviation criteria.  The =
object=20
database contains key information on each photographed object in the=20
database.  The pixel =
pattern=20
selection algorithm is adaptive and can adjust itself based on various=20
prevailing conditions such as atmospheric, meteorological, light, =
shadow, time=20
of day, spatial orientation.  =
It=20
selects suspects.  Suspect =
targets=20
are manually reviewed at high resolution. =20
A larger, more sophisticated UAV with a steerable zoom camera can =
be=20
dispatched to the GPS coordinates for a closer look at an interesting=20
target.  At that point, if =
things=20
look good I think it would be ok to hop in the old dune buggy (local =
land use=20
laws permitting) and have a look.<?xml:namespace prefix =3D o ns =3D=20
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<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial">This method could be refined =
and=20
improved with practice to perhaps find meteorites in lower contrast =
higher noise=20
areas.<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Dan=20
Vail<o:p></o:p></DIV></BODY></HTML>

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Received on Sat 30 Mar 2002 04:11:32 AM PST

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