scholarly journals Ungulate Responses to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Flying at Different Altitudes in Africa’s Arid Savanna

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marlice vanVuuren ◽  
Rudie vanVuuren ◽  
Larry M. Silverberg ◽  
Joe Manning ◽  
Krishna Pacifici ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Behavioral Responses ◽  
Anecdotal Evidence ◽  
Flight Altitude ◽  
Strong Correlations ◽  
Altitude Range ◽  
Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Future Viability ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
Different Altitudes

AbstractThis paper tests the hypothesis that ungulate-UAV interaction depends strongly on flight altitude, that there may be a lowest altitude range for which the ungulates are not exceedingly disturbed, dictating a practically achievable level of discernibility in flight observation. This question strongly influences the future viability of the UAV in the study and protection of the ungulates in Africa’s arid savanna. This paper examined the behavioral responses of a group of free ranging ungulate species (Oryx, Kudu, Springbok, Giraffe, Eland, Hartebeest, and Impala) found in an animal reserve in Namibia to the presence of different in-flight UAV models. The study included 99 flights (337 passes) at altitudes ranging from 15 to 55 meters. The ungulates were unhabituated to the UAVs and the study was conducted in the presence of stress-inducing events that occur naturally in the environment. The results suggest strong correlations between flight altitude and response across the different ungulates and anecdotal evidence suggests in some cases rapid habituation to the UAVs.

scholarly journals Przewalski’s Horses (Equus ferus przewalskii) Responses to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Flights under Semireserve Conditions: Conservation Implication

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Vanessa Lu ◽  
Feng Xu ◽  
Mardan Aghabey Turghan
Keyword(s):  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Behavioral Responses ◽  
Technological Innovations ◽  
Wildlife Monitoring ◽  
Ecological Research ◽  
Flight Altitude ◽  
Strong Correlations ◽  
Natural Behavior ◽  
Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Future Viability

Recent technological innovations have led to an upsurge in the availability of unmanned aerial vehicles (also known as drones and hereafter referred to as UAVs)—aircraft remotely operated from the ground—which are increasingly popular tools for ecological research, and the question of this study concerns the extent to which wildlife responses might allow aerial wildlife monitoring (AWM) by UAVs. Our experiment tests the hypothesis that the wildlife-UAVs interaction depends strongly on flight altitude that there may be a lowest altitude range for which the ungulates are not exceedingly disturbed, dictating a practically achievable level of discernibility in flight observation, for this question might influence the future viability of the UAVs in the study and protection of the other wildlife in China’s semiarid ecosystem. We examined the behavioral responses of a group of enclosed Przewalski’s horses (Equus ferus przewalskii) to the presence of different in-flight UAVs models by conducting flights at altitudes ranging from 1 to 52 meters and recorded the heights at which each horse reacted to (noticed and fled) the UAVs. All horses exhibited a stress response to UAVs flights as evidenced by running away. The results suggest strong correlations between flight altitude and response across the different subjects that adults generally noticed the UAVs at the larger heights (20.58 ± 10.46 m) than the immature (4.67 ± 0.87 m). Meanwhile, reaction heights of females (15.85 ± 6.01 m) are smaller than that of males (26.85 ± 18.52 m). Supported by their biological roles in herds (e.g., males must give protection to his entire herd while females are purely responsible for their offspring), our results also show that age, closely followed by gender, are the two most significant elements that determine a horse’s level of alertness to the UAVs. This research will help future scientists to better gauge the appropriate height to use a drone for animal observation in order to minimize disturbance and best preserve their natural behavior.

scholarly journals Trust Mediating Reliability–Reliance Relationship in Supervisory Control of Human–Swarm Interactions

2019 ◽  
Vol 62 (8) ◽  
pp. 1237-1248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aya Hussein ◽  
Sondoss Elsawah ◽  
Hussein A. Abbass
Keyword(s):  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Mediation Analysis ◽  
Supervisory Control ◽  
Predictive Power ◽  
Behavioral Responses ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Trust In Automation ◽  
The Relationship

Objective This work aims to further test the theory that trust mediates the interdependency between automation reliability and the rate of human reliance on automation. Background Human trust in automation has been the focus of many research studies. Theoretically, trust has been proposed to impact human reliance on automation by mediating the relationship between automation reliability and the rate of human reliance. Experimentally, however, the results are contradicting as some confirm the mediating role of trust, whereas others deny it. Hence, it is important to experimentally reinvestigate this role of trust and understand how the results should be interpreted in the light of existing theory. Method Thirty-two subjects supervised a swarm of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in foraging missions in which the swarm provided recommendations on whether or not to collect potential targets, based on the information sensed by the UAVs. By manipulating the reliability of the recommendations, we observed changes in participants’ trust and their behavioral responses. Results A within-subject mediation analysis revealed a significant mediation role of trust in the relationship between swarm reliability and reliance rate. High swarm reliability increased the rate of correct acceptances, but decreased the rate of correct rejections. No significant effect of reliability was found on response time. Conclusion Trust is not a mere by-product of the interaction; it possesses a predictive power to estimate the level of reliance on automation. Application The mediation role of trust confirms the significance of trust calibration in determining the appropriate level of reliance on swarm automation.

scholarly journals Javan langur responses to the repeated exposure of ground survey and novel stimulus, unmanned aerial vehicles

2021 ◽  
Vol 948 (1) ◽  
pp. 012006
Author(s):  
D A Rahman ◽  
Y Setiawan ◽  
A A A F Rahman ◽  
T R Martiyani
Keyword(s):  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Behavioral Responses ◽  
Ecological Monitoring ◽  
Local Fauna ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Linear Mixed Effects ◽  
Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Ground Survey ◽  
New Type ◽  
Generalized Linear Mixed Effects

Abstract The use of small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs; a.k.a “drones”) for ecological monitoring, conservation campaign, and management is increasing enormously. UAVs operate at low altitudes (<150 m) and in any terrain; thus, they are susceptible to interact with local fauna, generating a new type of anthropogenic disturbance that has not been systematically evaluated. Both policy-makers and practitioners require data about the potential impacts of UAVs on natural biota, but few studies exist. The research aims to compare behavioral responses from ground-based surveys vs. UAVs flights. Moreover, we conducted two experiments of UAVs overflights, specifically aiming to assess the responses of Trachypithecus auratus. Between January and March 2021, we conducted 24 UAVs flight approaches and 12 ground surveys at Mount Halimun-Salak National Park, Indonesia. We applied generalized linear mixed-effects models and Kruskal-Wallis tests to 364 behavioral scores obtained from two independent observers. When directly compared, the detection time was higher using UAVs (χ2 = 38.50; df= 1; p < 0.050), and behavioral responses by Javan langur to UAVs overflights at > 30 m were different from responses to ground surveys were more intense. Finally, we suggest data-driven best practices for UAVs use and the design of future UAVs-wildlife response studies.

Evaluation of disturbance effect on geese caused by an approaching unmanned aerial vehicle

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
MADS BECH-HANSEN ◽  
RUNE M. KALLEHAUGE ◽  
JANNIK M. S. LAURITZEN ◽  
MATHIAS H. SØRENSEN ◽  
BJARKE LAUBEK ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle ◽  
Initial Disturbance ◽  
Flight Altitude ◽  
Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Disturbance Effects ◽  
Vigilance Behaviour ◽  
Aerial Vehicle

SummaryUnmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are useful tools in ornithological studies. Importantly, though, UAV-caused disturbance has been noted to vary among species. This study evaluated guidelines for UAVs as a tool for researching geese. Twenty-four flocks of foraging geese were approached at an altitude of 50–100 m with a quadcopter UAV and disturbance effects were analysed across different horizontal distances between the UAV and the flocks. Geese were increasingly disturbed when approached by a UAV, with birds showing increased vigilance behaviour within approximately 300 m. Increasing UAV flight altitude as well as increasing take-off distance from the flocks both decreased the risk of bird flocks flushing. In conclusion, when monitoring geese using UAVs, flight altitudes of 100 m and take-off distances of ideally ∼500 m are recommended, to minimise initial disturbance and reducing the risk of birds flushing.

scholarly journals Feasibility of Using Small UAVs to Derive Morphometric Measurements of Australian Snubfin (Orcaella heinsohni) and Humpback (Sousa sahulensis) Dolphins

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 21
Author(s):  
Anna I. Christie ◽  
Andrew P. Colefax ◽  
Daniele Cagnazzi
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Mixed Models ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Morphometric Measurements ◽  
Image Frame ◽  
Total Length ◽  
Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Free Ranging

Analysis of animal morphometrics can provide vital information regarding population dynamics, structure, and body condition of cetaceans. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have become the primary tool to collect morphometric measurements on whales, whereas on free ranging small dolphins, have not yet been applied. This study assesses the feasibility of obtaining reliable body morphometrics from Australian snubfin (Orcaella heinsohni) and humpback dolphins (Sousa sahulensis) using images collected from UAVs. Specifically, using a dolphin replica of known size, we tested the effect of the altitude of the UAV and the position of the animal within the image frame on the accuracy of length estimates. Using linear mixed models, we further assessed the precision of the total length estimates of humpback and snubfin dolphins. The precision of length estimates on the replica increased by ~2% when images were sampled at 45–60 m compared with 15–30 m. However, the precision of total length estimates on dolphins was significantly influenced only by the degree of arch and edge certainty. Overall, we obtained total length estimates with a precision of ~3% and consistent with published data. This study demonstrates the reliability of using UAV based images to obtain morphometrics of small dolphin species, such as snubfin and humpback dolphins.

scholarly journals Influence of wind disturbances and nonlinearities of servo drive on the contour of stabilization of the flight of height of unmanned aerial vehicle

2019 ◽  
pp. 23-30
Author(s):  
V. A. Malkin ◽  
I. V. Rozhkov ◽  
A. A. San’ko
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Control Systems ◽  
Velocity Vector ◽  
Flight Altitude ◽  
Servo Drive ◽  
Automatic Control Systems ◽  
Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Aerial Vehicle

The article discusses a mathematical model of wind, taking into account its stochastic component and wind of a steady direction, presents the results of a comparative analysis of the effect of wind parameters on the total wind velocity vector acting on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). The main non-line arities of the autopilot servo elements and their influence on the output signal are considered. The reaction of the contour of the UAV flight altitude stabilization to the wind is considered, taking into account the nonlinearity of the servo drive elements. Proved the need to take into account the wind in the synthesis of automatic control systems (ACS) and the contours of the angular stabilization of the drone at stages where the flight speed of the drone is less than 30 m / s.

scholarly journals DEVELOPMENT OF UAV PHOTOGRAMMETRY METHOD BY USING SMALL NUMBER OF VERTICAL IMAGES

2018 ◽  
Vol IV-2 ◽  
pp. 169-175
Author(s):  
Y. Kunii
Keyword(s):  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Measurement Accuracy ◽  
Vertical Direction ◽  
Test Site ◽  
Relative Orientation ◽  
Japan Society ◽  
Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Photogrammetric Method ◽  
Final Orientation ◽  
Different Altitudes

This new and efficient photogrammetric method for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) requires only a few images taken in the vertical direction at different altitudes. The method includes an original relative orientation procedure which can be applied to images captured along the vertical direction. The final orientation determines the absolute orientation for every parameter and is used for calculating the 3D coordinates of every measurement point. The measurement accuracy was checked at the UAV test site of the Japan Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Five vertical images were taken at 70 to 90&amp;thinsp;m altitude. The 3D coordinates of the measurement points were calculated. The plane and height accuracies were &amp;plusmn;0.093&amp;thinsp;m and &amp;plusmn;0.166&amp;thinsp;m, respectively. These values are of higher accuracy than the results of the traditional photogrammetric method. The proposed method can measure 3D positions efficiently and would be a useful tool for construction and disaster sites and for other field surveying purposes.

scholarly journals Simulation of quadcopter flight altitude stabilization system

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (02) ◽  
pp. 638-650
Author(s):  
Mikhail Yu. Babich ◽  
Mikhail M. Butaev ◽  
Dmitry V. Pashchenko ◽  
Alexey I. Martyshkin ◽  
Dmitry A. Trokoz
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Control Algorithm ◽  
Angular Position ◽  
The Other ◽  
Practical Implementation ◽  
Stabilization System ◽  
Flight Altitude ◽  
Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Aerial Vehicle

Recently, unmanned aerial vehicles have been an important part of scientific research in various fields. Quadrocopter is an unmanned aerial vehicle with four rotors, two of which rotate clockwise, the other two counterclockwise. Changing the speed of screw rotation allows you to control the movement of the apparatus. The article proposed and tested a mathematical model of a quadcopter. They presented the development of a simple control algorithm that allows to stabilize the height and angular position. The research results show the efficiency of the algorithm and the possibility of its practical implementation. The developed mathematical model can be used instead of a real quadcopter, which will significantly reduce the time during research, as well as avoid the quadrocopter damage, reducing the number of launches.

Production of Orthophoto Map Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Photogrammetry

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. 4925-4929
Author(s):  
Norhayati Ngadiman ◽  
Masiri Kaamin ◽  
Nor Baizura Hamid ◽  
Suhaila Sahat ◽  
Mardiha Mokhtar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Digital Camera ◽  
Forest Area ◽  
General Area ◽  
Flight Altitude ◽  
Camera Model ◽  
Large Format ◽  
Photographic Image ◽  
Current Technology ◽  
Aerial Vehicles

Orthophoto is a part of the process of concept of photogrammetry in map production. Orthophoto image is a specific scaled photographic image produced from perspective images in which distortion errors originating from the attitude differences and the tilt of image are eliminated while orthophoto map is an orthophoto that has cartographic information on it (legend, grids, contours, labels, etc.). The development of current technology has introduced the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) as an alternative to conventional photogrammetry in creating orthophoto map. Purpose of this paper is to identify the potential of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) as an alternative to conventional photogrammetry which uses aircraft in creating orthophoto map. The area of the study is UniversitiTun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) Pagoh Campus within Pagoh Educational Hub. UAV photogrammetry based on a photogrammetricmeasurement platform, which operates remotely controlled, semi-autonomously, or autonomously, without a pilot sitting in the vehicle. The large format aerial camera in conventional photogrammetry is replaced with small format digital camera in UAV photogrammetry. For general area, the amount of forward overlap and side overlap is 75% and 60% respectively. For forest area, the amount of forward overlap and side overlap is 85% and 70% respectively as the UAV flight altitude will be higher. The whole workflow is introduced in the paper, where 461 images were collected with DJI Phantom 4 Pro with camera model FC6310. The flight mission was completed using PIX4D Capture. An orthophoto map covering an area of 250458 m2 was produced using AgisoftPhotoScan. The result from this study produces a better quality orthophoto map of UTHM Pagoh Campus. This map will shows the overview of the campus area with the most updated information.

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