Despite the rapid progress with different sensors allowing to analyze water contamination, turbidity, etc. in-situ, water sampling for subsequent analysis in the laboratory will stay widespread in the foreseeable future.
Traditional methods require direct access to the water body and samples are gathered from the shore, pier, bridge, or boat. Acquiring samples at some distance from the bank without a boat or ship is impossible.
A remote sampling system based on UAV solves that problem, allowing water sampling at long distances from the shore.
Fully automatic process of taking samples: the drone flies in automatic mode to a set location, descends to the required altitude, and releases the messenger to fill the sampler. After that drone ascends and delivers the sample to a set location
Water sample will be acquired exactly at a specified point
Possibility to take samples from the required depth by specifying the altitude to which the drone will descend before the messenger release
Possibility to take samples from dangerous/contaminated waters, and if no access available to the water body
Practical distance -a few hundred meters; the technical limit - a few kilometers from the take-off position as the drone flies and takes a sample in a fully automatic mode
The system consists of:
» Ruttner water sampler with volume 1l for DJI M300RTK or up to 5l for heavy lift drones.
» Onboard computer UgCS SkyHub enables to control water sampling process in a fully automatic mode. Water sampling missions are planned and flown in automatic mode with UgCS.
» Radar altimeter for real-time altitude measurement during the flight to the sampling location where it is necessary to take a sample, and also to control the descent to the required altitude to take a sample from a set depth.
» The only specific component developed for water sampling system is the messenger release device.
DJI M300RTK or M600Pro
Volume: 1l or 5l
On-line altitude measurement during the flight and control of descent for sampling
Goal: Testing the systems ability to acquire water samples in automatic mode.
Technology: Ruttner water sampler integrated with a drone equipped with UgCS SkyHub.
Flight Control: UgCS with radar altimeter.
Result: System works as expected.
Remote Water Sampling System
Onboard computer UgCS SkyHub
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