Rapid area coverage for unexploded ordnance using UAVs incorporating magnetic sensors

Tensor magnetic gradiometry reports accurate direction and approximate range to an UXO using a single point measurement. Instead of using a sparse grid of points, a UAV can fly a series of adjacent tracks and acquire the data needed to locate all items. Some recent modeling suggests that normal UAV flight speeds can achieve an area coverage rate of 15 acres/minute. This contrasts sharply with total field magnetic techniques that require a much denser grid of sensor tracks. Synthetic data from equivalent surface-based measurements and simulations of real time processing substantiate the models.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.