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Type: 
Journal
Description: 
Fixed or rotary wing manned aircraft are currently the most commonly used platforms for airborne reconnaissance in response to natural hazards, such as volcanic eruptions, oil spills, wild fires, earthquakes. Such flights are very often undertaken in hazardous flying conditions (eg, turbulence, downdrafts, reduced visibility, close proximity to dangerous terrain) and can be expensive. To mitigate these two fundamental issues--safety and cost--we are exploring the use of small (less than 100kg), relatively inexpensive, but effective, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for this purpose. As an operational test, in 2004 we flew a small autonomous UAV in the airspace above and around Stromboli Volcano. Based in part on this experience, we are adapting the RAVEN UAV system for such natural hazard surveillance missions. RAVEN has a 50km range, with a 3.5 m wingspan, main fuselage length of 4.60 m, and maximum …
Publisher: 
Publication date: 
1 Dec 2007
Authors: 

G Saggiani, F Persiani, A Ceruti, P Tortora, E Troiani, F Giuletti, S Amici, M Buongiorno, G Distefano, G Bentini, M Bianconi, A Cerutti, A Nubile, S Sugliani, M Chiarini, G Pennestri, S Petrini, D Pieri

Biblio References: 
Volume: 2007 Pages: GC11B-05
Origin: 
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts