Development of Small and Remote piloted aerial photographic system

Abstract

Images from Remote Sensing are satellite images or aerial photographs taken for the national use. However, satellite images with small spatial-resolution are not appropriate for mapping a large-scale map or research that needs high spatial-resolution. Meanwhile, because of its single band, aerial photographs with high spatial-resolution cannot be used for environmental remote sensing or research that needs multi-spectral resolution. While PKNU 2 focused on high-resolution images, PKNU 3 was developed to fabricate a small aerial photograph system with focus on multi-spectral property; and PKNU 4 is intended to develop a new small aerial photograph system to reduce a time for photographic work by calculating exterior parameters and taking photography at once and by interlocking GPS/INS and digital camera of 8.2 million resolution. Therefore, PKNU 4 has developed to produce high-resolution multi-spectral image and to have minimum atmospheric effect when photographing at low altitude so as to have low-priced photos from a digital camera and effective analysis of parameters for rapidly changing environment such as South Korea. Tests for Gyroscope calibration and lens calibration were carried out to understand geometric characters and to develop a small aerial photograph system for a small aeroplane. The completed aerial photograph system was operated four time for utility evaluation by using a helicopter, and once by using an aeroplane. The results of images for utility evaluation obtained by using an aeroplane were compared with those of PKNU 2 images. In this study, RMSE number, which estimates accuracy of ortho-rectification images, was 5.52, which means its performance is not much different from the accuracy of otho-rectification images from PKNU 2. With system calibration, capability of photograph system itself was shown to be excellent. PKNU 4 is smaller than PKNU 2 or PKNU 3, yet it seems to have similar capability of image accuracy. Therefore, while the time for ortho-rectification is reduced, it is suggested that capability has improved.