[meteorite-list] Sand Dunes and Meteorites

From: Meteorite1 <themeteoritesite_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:02:33 2004
Message-ID: <OE60KpRcTCi90gP8yJr0000049d_at_hotmail.com>

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

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MessageHello all,

    I know that I am not the rocket scientist here & this may be an =
oversimplified theory but I have a picture of my house & my fathers =
house taken from a satellite in orbit. Now I may be wrong but I kinda =
think that if someone is going to go to the trouble of putting millions =
of dollars of equipment into orbit that they would include thermal =
imaging as part of that inventory. Here is my thought, in the evening, =
at dusk when the desert floor is no longer being heated by the sun =
wouldn't the sand, plants & surrounding landscape cool off faster than =
the darker colored rocks (meteorites) with iron content? And if the =
meteorites did cool slower or have a higher temp because of their darker =
color couldn't we print out a GPS based list of these thermal hot spots?

This is just an idea considering that the technology I think is there is =
probably classified & we could never gain access to it anyway.

Sincerely,
Jim
=20
James Hartman
themeteoritesite_at_hotmail.com
www.meteorite1.net
imca_5098_at_hotmail.com (for IMCA member contact)
=20
Authenticity Guaranteed
www.meteoritecollectors.org


  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: dvail=20
  To: 'Meteorite-list Meteoritecentral'=20
  Sent: Saturday, March 30, 2002 1:11 AM
  Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Sand Dunes and Meteorites


  Ok,
  =20
  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!
  =20
  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.

  =20

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

  =20

  Dan Vail


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<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>Message</TITLE>
<META content=3D"text/html; charset=3Diso-8859-1" =
http-equiv=3DContent-Type>
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<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Hello all,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I know that I am not =
the rocket=20
scientist here &amp; this may be an oversimplified theory but I have a =
picture=20
of my house &amp; my fathers house taken from a satellite in orbit. Now =
I may be=20
wrong but I kinda think that if someone is going to go to the trouble of =
putting=20
millions of dollars of equipment into orbit that they would include =
thermal=20
imaging as part of that inventory. Here is my thought, in the evening, =
at dusk=20
when the desert floor is no longer being heated by the sun wouldn't the =
sand,=20
plants &amp; surrounding landscape cool off faster than the darker =
colored rocks=20
(meteorites) with iron content? And if the meteorites did cool slower or =
have a=20
higher temp because of their darker color couldn't we print out a GPS =
based list=20
of these thermal hot spots?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>This is just an idea considering that =
the=20
technology I think is there is probably classified &amp; we could never =
gain=20
access to it anyway.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Sincerely,<BR>Jim<BR>&nbsp;<BR>James =
Hartman<BR><A=20
href=3D"mailto:themeteoritesite_at_hotmail.com">themeteoritesite@hotmail.com=
</A><BR><A=20
href=3D"http://www.meteorite1.net">www.meteorite1.net</A><BR><A=20
href=3D"mailto:imca_5098_at_hotmail.com">imca_5098@hotmail.com</A> (for =
IMCA member=20
contact)<BR>&nbsp;<BR>Authenticity Guaranteed<BR><A=20
href=3D"http://www.meteoritecollectors.org">www.meteoritecollectors.org</=
A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: =
0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px">
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
  <DIV=20
  style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
  <A href=3D"mailto:dvail_at_cox.net" title=3Ddvail@cox.net>dvail</A> =
</DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A=20
  href=3D"mailto:meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com"=20
  title=3Dmeteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com>'Meteorite-list=20
  Meteoritecentral'</A> </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, March 30, 2002 =
1:11=20
  AM</DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [meteorite-list] =
Sand Dunes=20
  and Meteorites</DIV>
  <DIV><BR></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
  class=3D452060108-30032002>Ok,</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
  class=3D452060108-30032002></SPAN></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN class=3D452060108-30032002>A =
little more on=20
  my idea of how to search for meteorites in relatively high contrast, =
low=20
  noise&nbsp;areas like sand dunes.&nbsp; I realize that they won't be =
as easy=20
  to automatically recognize as a 10 foot diameter shinny black fusion =
crusted=20
  meteorite in the middle of an Antarctic ice field.&nbsp; However I do =
believe=20
  the following method will work and it would be =
fun!</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
  class=3D452060108-30032002></SPAN></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT size=3D+0><SPAN class=3D452060108-30032002>
  <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
  style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3D2>Low cost ultra miniature =
UAVs=20
  (unmanned aerial vehicle) sometimes called MAVs (miniature aerial =
vehicle) are=20
  hand launched and&nbsp;<SPAN class=3D452060108-30032002>belly landed =
and=20
  </SPAN>have a range of about&nbsp;<SPAN =
class=3D452060108-30032002>50</SPAN>=20
  mile<SPAN class=3D452060108-30032002>s.&nbsp; They&nbsp;can fly at an =
altitude=20
  of a few feet to 1000 feet</SPAN>.<SPAN=20
  style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;&nbsp;<SPAN =
class=3D452060108-30032002>They can=20
  be either battery or liquid fuel powered (aerosol can).&nbsp; =
</SPAN></SPAN>On=20
  board is a microcontroller, 4 mega-pixel digital camera, GPS receiver, =

  and&nbsp;<SPAN class=3D452060108-30032002>5 </SPAN>GHz 802.11a =
wireless LAN=20
  Interface capable of transmitting 104 megabits per second.<SPAN=20
  style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>The wireless LAN Interface =
is used for=20
  video transmission, streaming real-time telemetry and remote =
control.<SPAN=20
  style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>Remote control can be =
preformed in=20
  real-time by a person operating a laptop with remote control software=20
  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<SPAN class=3D452060108-30032002> sticks, indicators and=20
  gauges</SPAN>)<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>The =
laptop=20
  computer is connected to an 802.11a access point with an attached =
pitch and=20
  rotation controlled directional high gain parabolic antenna positioned =
at a=20
  pre-selected strategic high ground line of site vantage point.<SPAN=20
  style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>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&nbsp;<SPAN =
class=3D452060108-30032002>modified=20
  grid/</SPAN>radial pattern planed around the range characteristics of =
the=20
  UAV.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>During the =
execution of the=20
  search pattern the laptop records a series of overlapping snapshots =
stamped=20
  with GPS coordinate, UAV spatial orientation, date/time, and other =
pertinent=20
  information.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>A =
pixel-pattern=20
  discrimination program reviews the snapshots (Photoshop on =
steroids).<SPAN=20
  style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>The program allows the user =
to=20
  graphically select targets from a database of object photos and =
parametric=20
  deviation criteria.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>The =
object=20
  database contains key information on each photographed object in the=20
  database.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>The pixel =
pattern=20
  selection algorithm is adaptive and can adjust itself based on various =

  prevailing conditions such as atmospheric, meteorological, light, =
shadow, time=20
  of day, spatial orientation.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; =
</SPAN>It=20
  selects suspects.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; =
</SPAN>Suspect targets=20
  are manually reviewed at high resolution.<SPAN=20
  style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>A larger, more sophisticated =
UAV with=20
  a steerable zoom camera can be dispatched to the GPS coordinates for a =
closer=20
  look at an interesting target.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; =
</SPAN>At=20
  that point, if things look good I think it would be ok to hop in the =
old dune=20
  buggy (local land use laws permitting) and have a look.<?xml:namespace =
prefix=20
  =3D o ns =3D "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"=20
  /><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
  <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
  style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT =
size=3D2>&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
  <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
  style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3D2>This method could be =
refined and=20
  improved with practice to perhaps find meteorites in lower contrast =
higher=20
  noise areas.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
  <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
  style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT =
size=3D2>&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
  <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN=20
  style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3D2>Dan=20
  =
Vail<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P></SPAN></FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY>=
</HTML>

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Received on Sat 30 Mar 2002 04:38:43 AM PST


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