FIELDWORK ASSISTANT and AUTOMATED ROBOTIC PLATFORMS for ANTHROPOLOGICAL SURVEY (F.A.A.R.P.A.S)

Project MAWINGU: Survey UAV

The MAWINGU (or 'cloud' in Swahili) aerial platform could provide topographical imaging for dig sites and potential areas of interest. Could scout and map via GPS in areas inaccessible or dangerous to surveyors. The primary goal would be to create a relatively inexpensive, mostly autonomous/semi-autonomous platform that is safe for novice operators to potentially employ in the field.

Communication with platform would take place through a variety of subsystems, all of which need appropriate kill-switch safeties and layman interpretive capability:
Subsystem 1 (RC transmitter): Provides direct control
Subsystem 2 (Infrared Beacon): IR (Infra-red) beacons would be placed in appropriate locations and system would autonomously find and photograph/video these spots in sequential order.
Subsystem 3 (GPS): System can ultimately self-orient to surrounding terrain

Phase 1: Obtain and construct primary rig
Phase 2: Create flyable POC
Phase 3: Attach and configure photographic instrumentation
Phase 4: Attach and configure other instrumentation
Phase 5: Establish GPS/Autonomous Roving Capability
Phase 6: Create IR communication method
Phase 7: Create Homebase with sensors and control panel
Phase 8: Field Testing
Phase 9: Make system safe AND portable on a plane (via TSA regs)

Overall Project Goal: Create a relatively low-cost robotic platform solution for Anthropological dig sites that require up to date topographical photography and/or topographic data. This would eventually include multi-variant platforms with dual use and/or synergetic cooperation between systems.

Systems can provide:
- Aerial surveillance
- Terrestrial assistance
- Provide video, GPS coordinates and high resolution shots of areas
- Measure Air Temp
- Gauge Wind speed
- Measure Air Pressure
- Sample/Specimen Storage
-‘Darkroom’ Storage for soil samples (UV heliosensitive soil)
- Mini Refrigeration unit

‘Dream’ Features:
- Fluoroscope Readings
- Ground Penetrating Radar
- Low Power X-Ray or Scanning
- Multi-robot parent>child collaboration on a single platform