High Quality 3D Imaging, Using UAVs

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UAV enables HD 3D imaging over large areas.

The GeoDragon sensor system has now been integrated and flown on an Arcturus UAV T-20 Tier II unmanned aerial vehicle. The sensor system is enclosed in a wing-mounted pod and is capable of high-resolution 2D and 3D image capture. The sensor was designed by Urban Robotics in Portland, Oregon, while the aircraft itself was built by Arcturus UAV in Rohnert Park, California.

The GeoDragon system can create 3D reconstructions in near-real time and output high-resolution digital elevation models. The system will be released in mid-2014. GeoDragon adds significant 3D imaging and mapping capabilities to the T-20 UAV.

IHLS – Israel Homeland Security

The unique aspects of the system are low weight (equating to longer endurance and loiter time), small operational footprint on the ground (1 or 2 full size pick-up trucks), a quick mount/dismount pod, quiet operation (the T-20 utilizes a modified 4-stroke engine) and the ability to fly simultaneously with other payloads on the T-20, such as EO/IR.

According to sUAS News GeoDragon imagery is post-processed using automated 3D algorithms to rapidly generate large mapping and modeling datasets. Urban Robotics develops software and hardware solutions for 3D ISR, remote sensing and geospatial applications, including collection, post-processing, and data management. The T-20 is a runway independent, Tier II class, small tactical unmanned aerial vehicle.