In this section, you will gain an understanding of the different brands and makers of the UAV, payload sensors, and processing software.
Large UAS that are used mainly for defense purposes are around for a long time and have sophisticated technologies built into them. Examples of the manufacturers of such UAS are AAI Corporation, AeroVironment, Aurora Flight Sciences, BAE Systems, Boeing, Elbit Systems, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., Israel Aerospace Industries, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Rotax, Sagem, Selex Galileo, and many others. Within the last decade, many startup companies started manufacturing low-cost UAS that are mainly used for civilian purposes. Examples of those manufacturers are Trimble, Altavian, Sensefly Ltd, American Aerospace Advisors, Prioria, Uconsystem, Idetec, and many more.
The following four resources contain good information on existing systems and manufacturers:
The sensors required for UAS that are utilized for mapping purposes are mainly limited to cameras (Visible, near-infrared, and thermal infrared). The second resource provided in the previous section offers a list of sensors manufacturers that are used for UAS payloads. UAS payloads used for the mapping community mainly include imaging cameras. Such cameras have a variety of spectral bands such as visible (Red, green, blue), near infrared (NIR) and thermal infrared. There is only one LiDAR system developed mainly for the UAS and that is the VUX-1 manufactured by Riegl, which was described in Lesson 2. The most obvious provider of digital cameras (without endorsing any of them) that are small enough to fit within UAS payloads are the following:
For image-based mapping products generation, users will need efficient photogrammetric processing software. Such software should be capable of performing the following operations, among others:
Among the most obvious data processing software that are optimized for UAS data processing in the market (without endorsing any of them) are the following:
Each of these five software packages meets most of the capabilities listed above. However, some of them may be more suitable than others, depending on the situation and the nature of the project.
Links
[1] https://www.e-education.psu.edu/geog892/sites/www.e-education.psu.edu.geog892/files/AerialServices_UASGuide_Small.pdf
[2] https://www.e-education.psu.edu/geog892/sites/www.e-education.psu.edu.geog892/files/images/lesson09/GIM%20International.pdf
[3] https://www.e-education.psu.edu/geog892/sites/www.e-education.psu.edu.geog892/files/UAS-Suppliers.pdf
[4] https://mags.shephardmedia.com/HB-samples-2017/Commercial_Unmanned_Systems_Handbook_Sample_2017/pubData/mobile/index.htm#/1/
[5] https://geospatial.phaseone.com/cameras/
[6] https://www.imperx.com/ccd-cameras/
[7] https://www.nikonusa.com/en/Nikon-Products/dslr-cameras/index.page
[8] https://micasense.com/dual-camera-system/
[9] https://www.parrot.com/uk/shop/accessories-spare-parts/other-drones/sequoia
[10] https://www.agisoft.com/
[11] https://www.pix4d.com/#products
[12] http://www.menci.com/
[13] https://www.simactive.com/correlator3d-mapping-software-features
[14] https://www.geospatial.trimble.com/products-and-solutions/trimble-inpho-uasmaster?gclid=Cj0KCQiAu62QBhC7ARIsALXijXRQifB6ey8Ds3y6jWhROSjxYhXAqI9Swg4kDxDDrfvTc6OY3VC3eLMaAltuEALw_wcB