S-100 UAV carries VQ-820-GU hydrographic sensor

Schiebel has announced that its Camcopter S-100 Unmanned Air System (UAS) has been successfully integrated with the Riegl VQ-820-GU hydrographic airborne sensor for the first time. The UAV carried the sensor during a flight test in Grossmittel, Austria, earlier this month.

During the tests, the S-100 UAS carried a special Schiebel-made composite pod containing the sensor, the IMU-GNSS unit, the data recording and transfer unit as well as a digital camera. The successful integration marked the first time that the new airborne sensor has flown on board a UAV.

The Riegl VQ-820-GU is specifically designed to survey sea beds, the grounds of rivers or lakes and is well suited for combined land and hydrographic airborne survey. This fully integrated system thus enables acquisition of high-accuracy hydrographic and topographic data, even in critical operational areas.

According to Schiebel, fields of application include mapping of coastal lines, lakesides and river banks as well as mapping of archaeology and cultural heritage. These fields of applications require repetitive surveying of inshore waters and are usually carried out by manned helicopters. The advantage of using UAS over manned helicopters is that the system is uniquely capable of penetrating areas that may be too dangerous for piloted aircraft or ground patrols. This can provide additional safety and security for its users.

Dr. Johannes Riegl, Riegl CEO, said: ‘We are proud to have succeeded with this first integration of our bathymetric laser scanner with the Schiebel UAV. This high-end solution proves again Riegl’s strive for excellence with delivering outstanding, market leading solutions.’

Hans Georg Schiebel, Schiebel Industries AG director, added: ‘The combination of this extraordinary powerful and precise laser scanner in combination with the S-100 allows swift and accurate mapping of remote areas and will prove valuable in applications such as for mining, exploration and construction.’