Background
Unmanned aerial systems (UASs) have great potential to meet NOAA’s mission requirements in the coming years. UASs will be complementary to existing ground-based, airborne, and space-based systems. Important requirements identified in the NOAA 2005-2010 Strategic Plan that can be addressed by UAS platforms and their sensor payloads include fisheries monitoring and enforcement, surveillance, and ecosystem monitoring.
| This project supports the following Annual Guidance Memorandum Priorities: |
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Taking the Pulse of the Planet |
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e. Develop new techniques and measurements |
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i. Direct resources and research toward exploring new technologies |
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Advance NOAA’s Modeling Capability |
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b. Support research to operations |
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c. Develop and apply advanced data assimilation techniques |
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Provide Leadership for the Oceans |
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c. Improve existing regional coordination across NOAA and with other agencies |
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Deliver Effective, Efficient Decision-Support Information |
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a. Maximize the contribution of science and technology |
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b. Investigate, develop, and expand use of new technologies |
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e. Review operational concepts and identify opportunities for efficiencies |
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| This project supports the following DOC strategic goals: |
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2.1 |
Develop tools and capabilities that improve the productivity, quality, dissemination, and efficiency of research |
UASs are a relatively new asset available to NOAA research and operations. The importance of adding UAVs and newer technology to NOAA’s mission is described in the 2007 Annual guidance Memorandum from the NOAA Administrator (VADM Lautenbacher):
"We must move new but proven observing systems into an operational environment and redirect associated resources and research toward exploring new technologies, such as unmanned aerial vehicles, to meet future requirements."
To this end, a series of flights on Advanced Ceramics Research, Inc.’s (ACR) Silver Fox and Manta UASs is being planned for February of 2006. The purpose of the 2006 Silver Fox and Manta trials is to demonstrate the use of a Low Altitude Short Endurance (LASE) UAS to support NOAA, NOS and NMSP scientific and operational needs. The Silver Fox payload consists of optical and infrared surveillance systems. Several mission flights are planned to evaluate the Silver Fox’s ability to perform the following missions:
- Detection, observation, and identification of vessels, including determination of their activities (fishing, pleasure boating, etc)
- Detection, observing, and geo-locating shallow underwater features such as coral bleaching and groundings.
- Detection, observation, and tracking of oil spills, algae blooms, and other surface features.
- Detection, observation, and tracking surface dwelling living resources, such as marine mammals
Silver Fox Specifications
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