protecting the camera data from EMI, particularly around cell towers that will often be emitting microwaves that can easily interfere with highly vulnerable HDMI connections. Once encoded, the stream is exported from the encoder via an Ethernet-type standard with inherently higher error checking than HDMI. “Figuring out the relationship between the encoder and the radio is key to success in any sort of long-distance operation,” Pilskalns says. Data is coming out of the encoder at a very high rate, and as the signal-to-noise ratio in the data link goes up, the system has to be able to react to that in near real-time. “We have a number of workarounds for that in our stack, but the most important thing is that encoder and radio vendors are aware of each other’s integration compatibilities and incompatibilities, or are even working together on a solution in which their products work together.” The radios have been co-developed over several years with a couple of suppliers, and Skyfish has also been working with a partner to enable a near real-time data link for direct transfer of survey data from the UAVs to the cloud. With that link, Skyfish anticipates that images can be taken and fully uploaded to the cloud before the next image needs to be taken. That means entire photogrammetry data sets can be uploaded and possibly even processed into an actionable digital twin by the time the UAV lands. While this will enable in-depth analysis of survey information from anywhere in the world, Skyfish anticipates that its operators and customers in the field will continue using its GCS. Running on the Panasonic Toughbook, its design will be familiar to many, and it features a very bright screen that is key for the effective scrutiny of video data and health parameters coming in from the M6 and M4 when using it outdoors. “We’re also working on a less expensive GCS for customers with tighter budgets,” Pilskalns says. “It isn’t a Panasonic system, but it will still be NDAA-compliant.” Data analysis The production of hi-res digital twins from the photogrammetry data is critical for running various stress, wind and load analyses so that cell tower operators and owners can visualise where maintenance and repairs are imperative. The digital model ‘product’ is typically constructed after an hour of cloud processing, and increasingly the company is able to produce its 3D models within 45 minutes. Skyfish says that just a few years ago, it would have taken at least 24 hours to produce models with high-megapixel resolutions. The speed of modelling and analytics now though is such that survey teams may be able to return to cell towers later in the same day to re-inspect them for signs of critical damage or indicators of whether any bird species nesting on the towers are on an endangered list and hence cannot be disturbed. “While it’s hard to speak directly about the various trade secrets by whichwe get really detailed digital twins fromour photogrammetry, one of themof course is the geotagging,” Pilskalns says. “For instance, understanding angles correctly by extracting and using some very particular metadata fromour IMUs and RTK systems is key to building 3D shapes that are accurate to the sub-millimetre level. “We’re also using metadata, which a lot of people don’t, and it’s also about collecting enough of it – and doing so appropriately – before making sure it’s correlated robustly to the photographs in near real time. That’s key for photogrammetry as well as straightforward inspections.” Once the digital twin is constructed, it can be exported into CAD and other types of systems for detailed review. Skyfish’s own solutions include tools for studying measurements, area polygons, volumetric objects, drop lines and slice planes, with machine learning for contextual understanding of which parts and components are distributed throughout the model. “We have a patent-pending automated system that’s like an MRI in reverse, where we slice up the digital twin, piece it back together, and meanwhile use 2D analysis tools to get an accurate understanding not just of what the objects are but what condition they’re in. That is all without ever doing anything manually, all the way through to the reports we export for customers. “Then our AI systems work in the 59 Uncrewed Systems Technology | June/July 2023 Skyfish supplies Panasonic Toughbook-based GCSs, citing their screens’ brightness as critical to their usefulness in the outdoors
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