Virtual Vultures PROMISING PARTNERS IN CONSERVATION ON LAND

Virtual Vultures PROMISING PARTNERS IN CONSERVATION ON LAND AT SEA 1

Virtual vultures • Autonomous • Long flight time • Hi-res sensor • STOL/VTOL 2

UAV field trials 3

Flying a UAV Antennas are used to communicate information to and from the UAVs. These transmit instructions to the UAV, and receive flight information from the UAV such as wind speed, ground speed, GPS points, and ‘live’ video feed. Ground Control Station A computer is used to send realtime flight instructions via radio frequency to the autopilot on the UAV. The computer also receives real-time flight information such as battery power remaining, UAV coordinates and location on a google map. A user-friendly opensource software is used for this purpose. UAV is equipped with an autopilot, airspeed sensors, cameras, GPS and batteries. Remote Control This is used for manual flying, especially for landing the UAV in small landing areas 4

Glover’s Reef, Belize 3 airframes • Vanguard MK (flyingwing) • Techpod • Parkzone Icon A 5 (amphibious) 5

Glover’s Reef, Belize • Nav telemetry ~20 km • Live video <1 km • Range 50 km • 35 km/hr winds 6

Future of UAVs in Belize • Two fully loaded Vanguard MKIII • • • GOPRO Camera Autopilot GPS • June 2014 flight navigation training • Deployment plan 7

Northern Plains, Cambodia MAJA C • 45 km range • 1 hr flight time • 1. 0 kg payload • Still & video camera • Autopilot • FLIR HS-324 8

Makira, Madagascar Mikro. Kopter XL Hexakopter • 30 minutes • 1. 2 kg payload 9

Auto-mosaicking 10

Yankari, Nigeria Huginn X 1 • 25 minute flight time • 10, 000 ft max • Stealth above 150 m • Sonar assisted take-off/landing • Autonomous flight • HD and IR sensors • Windows 7 GCS • Drag and drop nav 11

High-end UAVs Vanguard Shadowhawk MK II • 25 km • 3 hours • Piston engine • HD and FLIR • ~$500 K Arcturus T-20 • 17” 6” wingspan • 190 cc 4 -stroke • 16 hours • 75 lbs payload • ~$200 K 12