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Open File Report 2014–1013

In cooperation with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Ames Research Center

Investigations into Near-real-time Surveying for Geophysical Data Collection using an Autonomous Ground Vehicle

By G. Phelps, C. Ippolito, R. Lee, J. Spritzer, and Y. Yeh

Thumbnail of and link to report PDF (2 MB)Abstract

The U.S. Geological Survey and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration are cooperatively investigating the utility of unmanned vehicles for near-real-time autonomous surveys of geophysical data collection. Initially focused on unmanned ground vehicle collection of magnetic data, this cooperative effort has brought unmanned surveying, precision guidance, near-real-time communication, on-the-fly data processing, and near-real-time data interpretation into the realm of ground geophysical surveying, all of which offer advantages over current methods of manned collection of ground magnetic data. An unmanned ground vehicle mission has demonstrated that these vehicles can successfully complete missions to collect geophysical data, and add advantages in data collection, processing, and interpretation. We view the current experiment as an initial phase in further unmanned vehicle data-collection missions, including aerial surveying.

First posted February 21, 2014

For additional information, contact:
Contact Information, Geology, Minerals, Energy, & Geophysics Science Center—Menlo Park, California
U.S. Geological Survey
345 Middlefield Road
Menlo Park, CA 94025-3591
http://geomaps.wr.usgs.gov/

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Suggested citation:

Phelps, G., Ippolito, C., Lee, R., Spritzer, J., and Yeh, Y., 2014, Investigations into near-real-time surveying for geophysical data collection using an autonomous ground vehicle: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2014–1013, 18 p., https://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ofr20141013.

ISSN 2331-1258 (online)



Contents

Abstract

Introduction

The Autonomous Ground Vehicle

The Flood Park Experiment

Data Processing

Discussion

Conclusions

References Cited


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