Evaluation of UAS for photographic re-identification of bowhead whales, Balaena mysticetus

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
William R. Koski ◽  
Gayan Gamage ◽  
Andrew R. Davis ◽  
Tony Mathews ◽  
Bernard LeBlanc ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Line Of Sight ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Eastern Canada ◽  
Bowhead Whales ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
History Information ◽  
Aerial Systems ◽  
Species Being

Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) have the potential to collect high-resolution photographs of marine mammals for life-history studies without disturbing the species being studied. We conducted a pilot study near Igloolik, Nunavut, in early July 2013 to collect identification-quality photographs of bowhead whales and record the responses of the whales to overflights by an UAS. Operating under a restrictive line-of-sight permit from Transport Canada, we successfully collected high quality photographs of bowhead whales and none of the whales overflown responded to the overflights in an observable manner. If the UAS were operated under a beyond-line-of-sight permit, the UAS could be used to search for whales ahead of and to the side of the survey vessels making it more efficient to find whales to photograph. Even when operating under the restrictive line-of-sight permit, large numbers of whales could be photographed, which would provide important life-history information on the poorly studied Eastern Canada – West Greenland population.

scholarly journals Assessment of known impacts of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) on marine mammals: data gaps and recommendations for researchers in the United States

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Courtney E. Smith ◽  
Seth T. Sykora-Bodie ◽  
Brian Bloodworth ◽  
Shalynn M. Pack ◽  
Trevor R. Spradlin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Marine Mammals ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Research Paradigms ◽  
Current State ◽  
Resource Managers ◽  
Data Gaps ◽  
Available Information ◽  
Aerial Systems

The development of advanced technologies to enhance conservation science often outpaces the abilities of wildlife managers to assess and ensure such new tools are safely used in proximity to wild animals. Recently, unmanned aerial systems (UAS) have become more accessible to civilian operators and are quickly being integrated into existing research paradigms to replace manned aircraft. Several federal statutes require scientists to obtain research permits to closely approach protected species of wildlife, such as marine mammals, but the lack of available information on the effects of UAS operations on these species has made it difficult to evaluate and mitigate potential impacts. Here, we present a synthesis of the current state of scientific understanding of the impacts of UAS usage near marine mammals. We also identify key data gaps that are currently limiting the ability of marine resource managers to develop appropriate guidelines, policies, or regulations for safe and responsible operation of UAS near marine mammals. We recommend researchers prioritize collecting, analyzing, and disseminating data on marine mammal responses to UAS when using the devices to better inform the scientific community, regulators, and hobbyists about potential effects and assist with the development of appropriate mitigation measures.

Design of a Robotic Catch and Release Manipulation Architecture (CARMA)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon Johnson ◽  
Robert Stroup ◽  
John J. Gainer ◽  
Levi D. DeVries ◽  
Michael D. Kutzer
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Tracking Accuracy ◽  
Camera System ◽  
Loop Control ◽  
Catch And Release ◽  
Detection And Tracking ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Aerial Systems ◽  
Time Limitations

The exponential growth of commercially available unmanned aerial systems (UAVs) provides a reliable, low-cost platform for mobile sensor deployment. Extensive work exists leveraging large numbers of these platforms for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) applications ranging from search and rescue to plume detection and tracking. The proposed Robotic Catch And Release Manipulation Architecture (CARMA) is designed to address flight time limitations of small UAVs, leveraging a robotic manipulation and computer vision to actively compensate for perturbations of the UAV in flight (caused by environmental conditions such as wind) and movements of the recharging station (cause by movement over rough terrain, sea state in maritime applications, etc.). CARMA leverages an industrial robotic manipulator to create a robust system capable of capturing multi-rotor UAVs in an agitated hover. Using a custom-designed end-effector incorporating a monocular camera system, CARMA employs a closed-loop control strategy informed by a relative position and orientation estimate of the UAV using an active marker approach. Results demonstrate UAV tracking accuracy sufficient for capture of a small, CrazyFlie 2.0 UAV. The architecture is deployed on the Universal Robots UR10 manipulator which is able to successfully track the Crazyflie for capture.

Marine mammal sightings by analysts of digital imagery versus aerial surveyors: a preliminary comparison

2013 ◽  
Vol 01 (01) ◽  
pp. 25-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
William R. Koski ◽  
Tannis A. Thomas ◽  
Dale W. Funk ◽  
A. Michael Macrander
Keyword(s):  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Additional Data ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
High Definition ◽  
Detection Rates ◽  
Detailed Review ◽  
Full Resolution ◽  
Single Lens ◽  
Slide Show ◽  
Aerial Systems

Sightings of marine mammals made by protected species observers (PSOs) on manned aircraft were compared to sightings obtained from later review of high-definition (HD) video and digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera imagery covering the same swaths and collected concurrent with the PSO observations. If the data were comparable, future similar surveys could be conducted with unmanned aerial systems or manned aircraft without PSOs. Two reviews were conducted on the DSLR images: one used image enhancement and scanned the images at full resolution of the cameras (detailed review) and the other flashed images at one ninth resolution on monitors for three to four seconds using a slide show format to simulate the view a PSO would have out an airplane window. Image reviewers saw fewer animals in HD video than did PSOs but sample sizes were small. During detailed review of DSLR imagery, reviewers saw similar numbers of cetaceans and polar bears and slightly more pinnipeds as compared to PSOs. PSOs saw more animals than the quick review found, but changes to the quick review process are suggested that will increase detection rates. Additional data are required to confirm the results presented here and to determine whether photographic versus PSO detections are similar across varying survey conditions.

Seasonal diving and foraging behaviour of Eastern Canada-West Greenland bowhead whales

2020 ◽  
Vol 643 ◽  
pp. 197-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
SME Fortune ◽  
SH Ferguson ◽  
AW Trites ◽  
B LeBlanc ◽  
V LeMay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Calanoid Copepods ◽  
Eastern Canada ◽  
West Greenland ◽  
Bowhead Whales ◽  
Seasonal Movement ◽  
Dive Behaviour ◽  
Calanus Glacialis ◽  
Canada West

Climate change may affect the foraging success of bowhead whales Balaena mysticetus by altering the diversity and abundance of zooplankton species available as food. However, assessing climate-induced impacts first requires documenting feeding conditions under current environmental conditions. We collected seasonal movement and dive-behaviour data from 25 Eastern Canada-West Greenland bowheads instrumented with time-depth telemetry tags and used state-space models to examine whale movements and dive behaviours. Zooplankton samples were also collected in Cumberland Sound (CS) to determine species composition and biomass. We found that CS was used seasonally by 14 of the 25 tagged whales. Area-restricted movement was the dominant behaviour in CS, suggesting that the tagged whales allocated considerable time to feeding. Prey sampling data suggested that bowheads were exploiting energy-rich Arctic copepods such as Calanus glacialis and C. hyperboreus during summer. Dive behaviour changed seasonally in CS. Most notably, probable feeding dives were substantially shallower during spring and summer compared to fall and winter. These seasonal changes in dive depths likely reflect changes in the vertical distribution of calanoid copepods, which are known to suspend development and overwinter at depth during fall and winter when availability of their phytoplankton prey is presumed to be lower. Overall, CS appears to be an important year-round foraging habitat for bowheads, but is particularly important during the late summer and fall. Whether CS will remain a reliable feeding area for bowhead whales under climate change is not yet known.

LIGHTER-THAN-AIR (LTA) UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEM (UAS) CARRIER CONCEPT FOR SURVAILLANCE AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 1255
Author(s):  
Ahmad Salahuddin Mohd Harithuddin ◽  
Mohd Fazri Sedan ◽  
Syaril Azrad Md Ali ◽  
Shattri Mansor ◽  
Hamid Reza Jifroudi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Disaster Management ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Unmanned Aerial System ◽  
Border Control ◽  
Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Operational Safety ◽  
In Situ Methods ◽  
Aerial Systems

Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) has many advantages in the fields of SURVAILLANCE and disaster management compared to space-borne observation, manned missions and in situ methods. The reasons include cost effectiveness, operational safety, and mission efficiency. This has in turn underlined the importance of UAS technology and highlighted a growing need in a more robust and efficient unmanned aerial vehicles to serve specific needs in SURVAILLANCE and disaster management. This paper first gives an overview on the framework for SURVAILLANCE particularly in applications of border control and disaster management and lists several phases of SURVAILLANCE and service descriptions. Based on this overview and SURVAILLANCE phases descriptions, we show the areas and services in which UAS can have significant advantage over traditional methods.

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