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.
Abstract:
A method of remotely measuring the diffuse attenuation coefficient K of ocean water from an airborne platform such as an aircraft. By directing a pulsed laser beam having a wavelength .lambda..sub.0 from the platform into the water, the beam interacts therewith to produce inelastic Brillouin backscatter signals at the wavelength .lambda..sub.1, where .lambda..sub.1 .noteq..lambda..sub.0. The desired backscatter propagate generally oppositely to the direction of propagation of the pulsed laser beam so that the backscatter can be received and collected at the platform. The upwelling optical energy includes the desired backscatter signals, which are separated out from the remainder of the upwelling optical energy. The separated backscatter signals are converted to equivalent electrical signals and periodically analyzed to generate therefrom the diffuse attenuation coefficient of the ocean water at the .lambda..sub.1 wavelength at periodic depths beneath the water surface. In another aspect of this invention both the Brillouin backscatter signals and the Raman backscatteer signals are separately filtered out to simultaneously measure the diffuse attenuation coefficient of the water at two distinct wavelengths. In another aspect of this invention the diffused attenation coefficient K is measured from a submerged platform, such as a submarine. This has the advantage of allowing deep ocean layers to be measured along with ocean water beneath the polar ice cap.
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 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 (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 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:
In one embodiment, a laser particle sensor (102) on or in a vehicle is provided. The laser particle sensor comprises an optical system (103); a processing system (116) coupled to the optical system; wherein the optical system is configured to transmit one or more laser light beams (112) to detect particles in a volume of freestream fluid (114), and to have the one or more light beams terminate on a portion of the vehicle on which the optical system is mounted; and wherein the optical system is configured to receive a backscattered portion of the one or more laser light beams transmitted by the optical system.
Abstract:
[Object] To provide a novel and improved information processing device that can make more efficient an inspection performed by a flying body capable of performing imaging. [Solution] Provided is an information processing device including an imaging position information acquisition unit configured to acquire imaging position information at a time when a structure is imaged which is acquired by an imaging device configured to fly over a periphery of the structure to image the structure on the basis of certain flight information, and a damage data generating unit configured to use a captured image of the structure imaged by the imaging device and the imaging position information and to generate data related to damage of the structure including position information of damage of the structure included in the captured image.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a gas measuring device (1) which is mobile, such as able to be sent into space, for performing a measurement relating to a concentration of a gas, such as nitrogen oxides, such as nitrogen dioxides, in a gas mixture such as air, comprising: - a reaction chamber (2) suitable for holding a reaction mixture for the purpose of bringing the gas into contact therein with the reaction mixture; - gas feed means (3), such as comprising a gas mixture feed tube, for feeding the gas mixture to the re¬ action chamber (2); - gas discharge means (4), such as comprising a gas mixture discharge tube, for discharging gas from the reaction chamber (2); - at least one photoelectric element (5), such as a photodiode, for converting photons, which are preferably released during a reaction between the gas and the reaction mixture, to electrical energy; - a processing circuit (31), such as an amplification circuit for a sampling circuit, for the purpose of providing a signal for sampling corresponding to a value of the released photons.
Abstract:
A method of optically determining the presence of volcanic ash within a cloud comprises emitting a circularly polarized illuminating beam within a cloud (102) and analyzing backscatter light to identify the presence of volcanic ash within the cloud (104). The method may further include 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 may also be analyzed.