Historic, Archive Document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. DGPS Navigation systems for Agricultural Aircraft 3400 FPM October 1994 9534-2807-MTDC in Forestry: Test Plan Reserve aSB953 . 154 1994 Ulalitsyemel Ci Department of Agriculture INPW HLOINENE AGRICULTURAL LIBRARY Advancing Access to Global Information for PNetaraulieelte GPS Aircraft Navigation Test Plan Prepared by: Harold Thistle, Ph.D. Anthony Jasumback William Kilroy Missoula Technology and Development Center USDA-Forest Service, Bldg. 1, Ft. Missoula Missoula, MT 59801 August 2, 1994 Final Draft 2 1a.tneo Minbetoes, BP se : “~y t has Lntroductiion The field of Global Positioning System (GPS) based navigation is rapidly growing with technology currently available which can positively impact the effectiveness of USDA-Forest Service Forest Pest Management (FPM) operations. This technology is based on the receipt of signals from a constellation of satellites. These satellites were originally intended for military use but as time goes on, the capabilities of civilian technology based on GPS are increasing rapidly. Currently, instrumentation using the signals from this satellite constellation can yield positions on the surface of the Earth with less than 2m absolute error under optimal conditions. The applications of this type of accurate positioning are numerous. Of great interest to FPM (investigation and implementation of this technology has been noted as a priority by the National Spray Model Advisory Steering Committee, the Steering Committee for Gypsy Moth and Eastern Defoliators, and many other groups within the USDA- Forest Service) is the ability to accurately know and log to a stored file the exact position of an aerial or ground spray system during an application event. This ability can eliminate the problem of treating the wrong area making flagmen and block marking unnecessary in most cases. Questions raised in litigation can be directly addressed with detailed records. Lost pilot time due to finding home can be reduced, costs associated with returning to base for reloading and then returning to the exact position application ceased can be reduced and misses or gaps can be spotted immediately by the applicator or operational manager allowing corrective action to be taken. In general, costs can be lowered, safety improved and efficiency increased if GPS navigation systems were integrated into FPM pesticide application operations. weldeotvad feted ‘2W M stelaye write tijee® Cadet Se bleri wo npo dole anaes LJuerune ¢pe hoe tin a =a Jan" ‘oieand susiat- ale #28eev{ 3 va! oo» Speed #!, weuloribed eh caring tatege (nv4 : szer Mots. 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Same \aobeems TE 124 NGOlIA-Bia rayne se oe at Aw ye. anomw erty pebaanees 10) eo So noswAcrIif Wi eases 2oetdasen ueeees Soae ae 23 erm ane Jolzg genni eeiani belinves Atv basasdh od pnlawtedt ae io hesal 2OSE9 alas hage beet ed M62 Sree toa ltineg Janeane “es nl nealergdas at Site pat haoker.a id betsoqu otf nso ean =o ehouin Sie} an a So bette 1 PXiVGis Ss Japunaa ! ated Thisde “Oo Yotsaniiqas eas ya Wr: eo.3001 $4 160 ette9o ~'etensh dl = +aedct ed a9 net dee 3 rh KRaleys noieplysit Bat i hetieeinet Yormsoitie bra bavorei anoiopiags foithohiqgsn abicijesg STi osnt pedes me SS Pie eroblem Statement There are two distinct sets of problems from the standpoint of FPM regarding GPS navigation technology. The first problems are technical concerns. The primary one is whether the signal can be reliably received by aircraft operating in mountainous or complex terrain. GPS navigation equipment is gaining wide acceptance among agricultural aviators, however, they typically work in relatively flat terrain. Much of the FPM application work is carried out under conditions where ground based transmitters which are used to increase the accuracy of the system, would be obscured. Also, in extreme terrain, the aircraft would not ‘view’ enough satellites to resolve position. Another technical issue is that aerial applicators in complex terrain often fly ‘contours’ instead of straight swaths. The shape of the contours is determined by the local terrain. This type of application requires a higher level of sophistication in the associated GPS software and control systems. Further technical concerns are associated with operator safety and workload. If the systems are properly designed, safety should be improved and workloads reduced compared to current operational methods. The second set of problems involves the acceptance and integration of this technology into the current modus operandi. Various field trials have demonstrated that this technology can provide the positional accuracy claimed for it (Mierzejewski 1993, Sampson 1993, Falkenberg et al. 1994, among others). Beyond the specific technical questions listed above, most of the basic technical concerns have been addressed. However, a critical part of this program is to provide a demonstration of this technology in order to provide a clear rationale and justification (assuming the remaining technical issues can be adequately resolved) for FPM to move forward and implement GPS based aircraft navigation. - i 4a) bs » Stieqhncdt2 s15 mor? sasidom te ater Ton EPBES omm evade sasi? of* (peloni sex ie ne sa ied [eapie edd sec¢ety «lene treater KS yeeo EO evortetriay it yn Tavege stax ; PhORs Manes YOO wiv griciep =? traseione gant wiatiselo® ni wren (flénfay? yet? .vevowel 41 too Helawen 32i Ayos Acatcoilgae AT one PB ran . " of bese ers Aotrlw ayestinecas? beset babose Ss moo fIE nt ,oolA ‘.bespoede sd bliin .weeteva ooo. te eo» L | Bers. Lok GU sad RS [a ‘i “vaiv" Sor Sivaw Fremals o cites tedt ee: suet lsehadeot? -seritial . 16 Asseteany ‘enmeoneti* E> “AS7%0 itsries KS mt at oi? 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