Identification of UAV Platforms and Payloads for Mineral Exploration and Applications in the Oil and Gas Industry

Abstract

Donohue V. (2014). Identification of UAV Platforms and Payloads for Mineral Exploration and Applications in the Oil and Gas Industry. International Journal of Unmanned Systems Engineering. 2(3): x-x. This paper identifies UAV platform and sensor suites for use in oil, gas and mineral exploration and monitoring. Platform selection accounts for the extreme weather environments and remote locations where the UAVs are expected to operate. The six platforms considered include four single engine UAVs (Insitu GeoRanger, Insitu Integrator, AAI Shadow 200, Aeronautics Aerostar Tactical) and two twin engine platforms (ROV-1, MA THOR Twin). Sensor suite options include a high-definition (HD) camera with full motion video, scanning light detection and ranging (LiDAR), differential thermal imager, hyperspectral imager, cesium magnetometer, and a quantum cascade laser. Mission requirements include: 1. Reliable operation in arctic, desert and tropical environments; and 2. A minimum 10 kg payload capacity; 3. Fully autonomous function from launch to recovery; 4. Continuous satellite link with ground control station monitoring; 5. A range of 1000 km; 6. Remote launch and recovery capability. Three UAV/sensor suite combinations are considered viable in satisfying the mission requirements. The ROV-1 is selected as the best UAV platform option with the following sensor suite: HD camera, hyperspectral imager, differential thermal imager, cesium magnetometer, and quantum cascade laser. The features making the ROV-1 the best option include its twin engines, 1500 km range and 34 kg payload capacity, which meet or exceed the mission requirements of reliability, range and payload. © Marques Engineering Ltd.