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Home News RS & Photogrammetry SBG Systems InertialSensor Selected by Headwall for a Full-Featured UAV-BasedRemote Sensing Solution The American Surveyor

July 23, 2014

SBG Systems Inertial Sensor Selected by Headwall for a Full-Featured UAV-Based Remote Sensing Solution

Written by SBG Systems

Tuesday, 22 July 2014

Headwall is known as the world’sleading designer and manufacturer ofhigh performance hyperspectralimaging sensors for harshenvironments. As a pioneer forremote sensing applications,Headwall is the first mover to put tothe market a fully integrated remotesensing solution, combininghyperspectral and LiDAR sensors ona small Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV).This ‘total solution’ approach isembraced by the remote-sensingmarket because it quickens time-to-deployment, decreasesimplementation costs, and enablesoperations in harsh environments.

A Unique Uav-Based RemoteSensing Solution

The UAV is a multi-rotorUAV (four wings with twoprops per wing). It carriesHeadwall’s lightweight Micro-Hyperspec VNIRhyperspectral sensor and aVelodyne LiDAR unit. TheLiDAR provides a point cloudthat reflects the field’stopographic relief, and thehyperspectral sensordelivers a picture showingspectral signatures of everyobject within the field ofview. These spectralsignatures, like‘fingerprints’, enablematerial identification. Forexample, a spectral signature for hydro-carbons helps mineralogists discover and find newoil fields. Assembled together, hyperspectral and LiDAR data form a digital elevation modelunique to the industry.

Ekinox-N, Light-Weight & High Performance INS/GPSAn inertial navigation system with GPS is needed to provide positioning and orientationdata. When it came to selecting the best sensor, the Headwall team studied high endinertial navigation systems. “We chose the Ekinox-N as it offered the best combination ofperformance and features for the price,” explains Sam Hill, Optical/Software Engineer atHeadwall. The weight was a key factor. The Ekinox-N weighs only 500 grams, though itintegrates a Survey-grade L1/L2 GNSS sensor to provide accurate positioning and precisionroll, pitch, and heading data. “It is lighter than other high-end units in this class, and we areable to offer customers the ability to collect higher-resolution digital elevation models thatairborne environmental-monitoring projects like these demand” adds Mr. Christopher VanVeen in charge of Marketing at Headwall.

Accurate Digital Elevation ModelsMounted on the UAV, the Ekinox-N provides LiDAR and the hyperspectral camera’sorientation and position during the whole flight. Data is recorded in real-time at 200 Hzwithin the onboard computer that records the other sensors’ data as well. On the ground,the Headwall post-pro- cessing Hyperspec software fuses all sensor information.“Customers also wish to do orthorectification of their image data during post-processing;this is made possible thanks to the outstanding Ekinox-N accuracy.” points out Mr. VanVeen. Indeed, Ekinox-N data makes every scanned point and every pixel georeferencedand tilt compensated within a centimeter level accuracy.

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What’s Next?Now thoroughly field-tested, Headwall has shipped the integrated UAV sensor solutionwhich will be used by a major United States-based educational institution for environmentaland geological research studies (specifically rock-cliffs and vegetation analysis) and newcustomer orders are being built. “This represents a ‘new frontier’ for the remote-sensingcommunity because Headwall’s total solution includes the most desired technicalinstruments on a mission-specific UAV: hyperspectral, LiDAR, GPS/IMU, and the softwareand data-management/storage infrastructure.“ concludes Mr. Van Veen.

More information on Headwall: Website: http://www.headwallphotonics.com Video: http://youtu.be/b-pxQ_om660More information on the Ekinox-N: http://www.sbg-systems.com/products/ekinox-n-ins-gps

About SBG SystemsSBG Systems is a leading French supplier of MEMS-based inertial motion sensing solutions.The company provides a wide range of inertial solutions from miniature to high accuracy.Combined with cutting-edge calibration techniques and advanced embedded algorithms,SBG Systems products are ideal solutions for defense, industrial & research projects suchas unmanned vehicle control, antenna tracking, camera stabilization, and surveyingapplications.

About Headwall SolutionsHeadwall is the world’s leading high-volume manufacturer of hyperspectral sensorscommonly used aboard aircraft and UAVs for the purpose of environmental monitoring,precision agriculture, minerals and geology, pollution control, pipeline management, andmore. The company also offers fully integrated solutions which are deeply adjusted tocustomer’s needs and budget. For example the UAV can be remotely controlled or totallyautonomous, rotor or fixed-wing, and it can carry hyperspectral in addition to LiDAR andother sensors as part of its payload.

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