Remote aerial data acquisition and capture project (RADAC)

Abstract

The RADAC Project encompasses the design and prototype implementation of a system for low-cost aerial data sensor acquisition. It includes a Ground Transponder Unit (GTU), and Aerial Interrogation System (AIS) mounted under an aircraft. The GTU captures and transmits water-meter readings; the AIS initiates’ measurements and processes and displays the results. The proposed system is based on RF devices in association with a small low-cost single chip camera and microcontrollers. During a consultancy to a large Queensland government authority which has approximately 8000 water meters in regional and remote parts of the state. It was realised that considerable savings could be made in the management of water resources and human resources needed to read these at three month intervals. This project will calculate the RF subsystem performance in terms of gain, beamwidth, return loss, bandwidth, and matching of the antenna into the RF transceiver device Design Executive Data Acquisition System and Design and implement Interrogation Microcontrollerand Design PCB for RF Transceiver and Design and calculate power usage and Power Supply design and calculate High-Gain Helical Antenna. The solution based on using RF devices based on IEEE802.15.4 (IEEE 2006) in association with a small low cost single chip camera andmicrocontroller. Figure 1 shows the Block Diagram of the Ground Transponder Unit and symbolic AIS. The potential saving in maintenance costs to industry by remotely taking measurements is significant enough to warrant furtherinvestigation with industry. There is the potential for its adaption in other resource sectors