Abstract:
Method for the quantification of the fugitive gas flow from a dispersed source (A) by monitoring with a remote detection optical instrument mounted on an aircraft (UAV) which moves at a determined height along a plane (5) perpendicular to the direction of the wind field (u), such wind field being known through suitable positioning of meteorological stations within and in areas neighbouring the site to be monitored according to known techniques and use of commercially available diagnostic meteorological models. By this instrument discrete vertical measurements are carried out of the fugitive gas concentration averaged over said height along the whole width (W) of the plane (S) to yield corresponding mean vertical concentration values and, according to mean wind speed values detected at said discrete vertical measurements, a value of the fugitive gas flow (Q) is obtained by integrating the product of the mean vertical concentration values and of the corresponding mean wind speed values with respect to the surface of the sampling plane (5). The obtained value of the fugitive gas flow (Q) is corrected by a corrective factor (a) obtainable by comparing concentration values obtained by direct measurements and values calculated by dispersion models.
Abstract:
An airborne/spaceborne oil spill detection method includes the step of providing a moderate-resolution-imaging-spectroradiometer and sensing the spectral reflections from two optical bands one of which is in the near infrared range. The spectral contrast shift from two adjacent areas of water are calculated and a warning issued when an oil spill or other contaminant is detected. A system for detecting an oil spill or other contaminant on the surface of water is also disclosed.
Abstract:
A system and method for free space, optical remote sensing of a potential threat agent using spectrally responsive sensor material. In one example the sensor material is formed by particles, which in one particular form are porous photonic crystals. The particles are dispersed into an area being monitored for the presence of the potential threat agent. A pair of lasers is used to generate optical light beams that are directed at the sensor particles after the particles have been dispersed. The light reflected by the sensor particles is then analyzed. The presence of the potential threat agent causes a shift in the spectral peak of light reflected from the sensor particles that can be sensed using photo detectors and a processing subsystem. The system can be tuned to remotely detect for specific chemical, biological or environmental agents that may be present within a given area.
Abstract:
The unmanned flying body is provided with a gas detector, a distance meter, and an altitude controller. The gas detector emits diagonally downward to the forward side in a moving direction of the unmanned flying body a detecting light frequency-modulated by a predetermined modulation frequency setting a predetermined frequency as a central frequency. The gas detector receives the light, returned from a measurement target to which the detecting light is emitted (an area on a pipe member for transferring gas, irradiated with the detecting light), as first light. The measurement target is checked for gas leakage based on the received first light. The distance meter measures the distance between the gas detector and the measurement target. The altitude controller controls the flight altitude of the unmanned flying body based on the measured distance.
Abstract:
A gas detection apparatus mountable to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprises a transceiver module, a reflector module and an electronics module. The transceiver module comprises a laser emitter and a laser receiver; the laser emitter is tunable to emit a laser spectroscopy beam that can detect at least one target gas, and the laser receiver is configured to convert the laser spectroscopy beam into absorption spectroscopy measurement data. The reflector module comprises a reflective surface capable of reflecting the laser spectroscopy beam emitted by the laser emitter to the laser receiver. The transceiver and reflector modules are mountable on parts of the UAV such that the transceiver and reflector modules are spaced apart and the laser emitter and laser receiver have an unimpeded line of sight with the reflecting surface. The electronics module is communicative with the transceiver module and with a flight computer of the UAV, and comprises a gas detection program that determines a concentration of the target gas from the measurement data received from the transceiver module; when the determined concentration of the target gas meets or exceeds an alarm threshold, the program records the received measurement data and instructs the flight computer to execute a defined flight plan for the UAV.
Abstract:
A chemical application detection system and mobile visual sensing technology utilizes drones, ground robotics, or fixed camera with a GPS system and a UV sensing camera. The detection device senses a color hue of one or more additives combined with a chemical treatment applied to a field above or below the canopy. The detected information is transmitted to a computer where the chemical treatment and location are displayed.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a contamination recording apparatus (12) for recording contaminations in a flowing hydraulic fluid (10) to be examined in aircraft (11a), which comprises a conveying device (14) for conveying the flowing hydraulic fluid (10), a light source (34) for exposing the hydraulic fluid (10) flowing in the conveying device (14) to light (46), and a detection device (36) for recording a fraction of the light (46) absorbed by the exposed hydraulic fluid (10), the light source (34) being formed in order to emit light (46) having a wavelength in the near-infrared range. The invention furthermore relates to a hydraulic system (11) equipped with such a contamination recording apparatus (12) and to an aircraft (11a), and also to a method for recording contaminations in a hydraulic fluid (10) flowing in a hydraulic system (11) of an aircraft (11a).
Abstract:
A method of optically determining the presence of volcanic ash within a cloud comprises emitting a circularly polarized illuminating beam within a cloud and analyzing backscatter light to identify the presence of volcanic ash within the cloud. The method further includes determining the degree to which the cloud has altered the polarization state of the emitted beam. The index of refraction of the backscatter light and the opacity of the backscatter light are also analyzed.
Abstract:
Method for the quantification of the fugitive gas flow from a dispersed source (A) by monitoring with a remote detection optical instrument mounted on an aircraft (UAV) which moves at a determined height along a plane (S) perpendicular to the direction of the wind field (u), such wind field being known through suitable positioning of meteorological stations within and in areas neighboring the site to be monitored according to known techniques and use of commercially available diagnostic meteorological models. By this instrument discrete vertical measurements are carried out of the fugitive gas concentration averaged over said height along the whole width (W) of the plane (S) to yield corresponding mean vertical concentration values and, according to mean wind speed values detected at said discrete vertical measurements, a value of the fugitive gas flow (Q) is obtained by integrating the product of the mean vertical concentration values and of the corresponding mean wind speed values with respect to the surface of the sampling plane (S). The obtained value of the fugitive gas flow (Q) is corrected by a corrective factor (a) obtainable by comparing concentration values obtained by direct measurements and values calculated by dispersion models.
Abstract:
A method for mapping, in three dimensions, the contents of a plume within an area is described. The method includes distributing spectrally sensitive sensors on a first surface of a vehicle, distributing spectrally sensitive emitters on a second surface of a vehicle, causing the emitters to output a signal directed through the plume and towards the sensors, receiving at least a portion of the emitter output at the sensors, communicating an output of the sensors, the sensor output caused by the received optical emitter output, to a central processing unit, and analyzing the sensor outputs and time-based vehicle positions to characterize the plume and an area surrounding the plume in three dimensions over a period of time.