the ARCHER Briefing for Commanders - June 2009

21 Pages·2009·2.62 MB·English

CCiivviill AAiirr PPaattrrooll
UUnniitteedd SSttaatteess AAiirr FFoorrccee AAuuxxiilliiaarryy
……ppeerrffoorrmmiinngg MMiissssiioonnss ffoorr AAmmeerriiccaa
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AARRCCHHEERR CCoonncceepptt && CCaappaabbiilliittiieess
What is ARCHER?
AAirborne
RReal-Time
CCueing
HHyperspectral
EEnhanced
RRecon
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AARRCCHHEERR iiss aa ccuussttoomm--ddeessiiggnneedd ssyysstteemm ooff
(cid:139)(cid:139)
hhyyppeerrssppeeccttrraall iimmaaggiinngg hardware and software (HSI).
HSI is a technology that allows a sensor on a moving
(cid:139)
platform to ddeetteecctt aanndd//oorr ggaatthheerr rreefflleecctteedd rraaddiiaattiioonn
(light) from man-made or natural objects on the
ground.
Hyperspectral Imaging will ssuuppppoorrtt ccuurrrreenntt aanndd ffuuttuurree
(cid:139)
CCAAPP mmiissssiioonnss
Search and Rescue (SAR)
(cid:141)
Disaster Relief (DR)
(cid:141)
Homeland Security (HLS)
(cid:141)
Counter Drug (CD)
(cid:141)
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ARCHER executes three separate algorithms for target acquisition and identification:
(cid:139)(cid:139) SSppeeccttrraall ssiiggnnaattuurree mmaattcchhiinngg:: detects specific spectral signatures using
matched filters (find things with known spectral properties)
(cid:139) Requires an eexxaacctt sample of the color for best operation
(cid:139) May be obtained via overflight (recommended) or handheld spectrometer
(cid:139) Varying weather conditions and shadows can impact spectrometer readings
(cid:139) Potential Missions: SAR, DR, HLS
(cid:139)(cid:139) AAnnoommaallyy ddeetteeccttiioonn:: detects spectral anomalies (things that do not “belong”)
(cid:139) Does not work well in an urban environment
(cid:139) Potential Missions: SAR, CD, HLS, DR
(cid:139)(cid:139) CChhaannggee ddeetteeccttiioonn:: detects changes over time in a pixel-by-pixel comparison
(cid:139) Comparisons of similar time periods and recent data yields better results
(cid:139) Potential Missions: HLS, DR, SAR, CD
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(cid:139) ARCHER is a nnoonn--iinnvvaassiivvee reflective light technology
(cid:139) Works best on clear days when the sun is high
(cid:139) Sorties are typically conducted at mid-day to support this
(cid:139) ARCHER will NNOOTT make detections:
(cid:141) Through solid materials (e.g., roofs, buildings, walls, floors, etc.)
(cid:141) Underground
(cid:141) Under snow
(cid:141) Under water
(cid:141) Under trees
(cid:141) At night
(cid:141) Will not detect small objects (less than 1 meter square when
operating at 2500 ft) such as missing persons
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AARRCCHHEERR CCoonncceepptt && CCaappaabbiilliittiieess
A search detection mission crew is four members
(cid:139)
(cid:139) Mission Pilot
(cid:139) Co-pilot (or very experienced Observer)
(cid:139) ARCHER Operator
(cid:139) ARCHER Trac Technician (or a second ARCHER Operator)
Multiple mission sorties often require multiple crews
(cid:139)
Additional analysis of mission search data can be
(cid:139)
conducted after the mission on the ARCHER ground
station but requires another ARCHER operator
(cid:139) Only qquuaalliiffiieedd ARCHER operators or trainees under
supervision may operate the airborne systems or the
ground station
(cid:139) There is no on-the-job or other local training available for non-
qualified operators; trainees are designated by CAP national
headquarters, and are generally personnel that require more time
completing a formal class before being fully qualified
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AARRCCHHEERR CCoonncceepptt && CCaappaabbiilliittiieess
Time to search ¼ of a CAP grid (3.75 x 3.75
(cid:139)
nm) is approximately 2.5 hrs
(cid:139) Turns are made OUTSIDE of the grid
Normal search altitude is 2,500’ AGL
(cid:139)
Normal search speed is 90-100 knots
(cid:139)
The ARCHER Operators or ARCHER Trac
(cid:139)
Technicians will determine track spacing
(normally 25% overlap)
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AARRCCHHEERR SSyysstteemm CCoommppoonneennttss
HHSSII AAiirrccrraafftt:: GGAA--88 AAiirrvvaann
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AARRCCHHEERR SSyysstteemm CCoommppoonneennttss
AARRCCHHEERR OOnnbbooaarrdd
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AARRCCHHEERR SSyysstteemm CCoommppoonneennttss
Monitor
Drive Bay
Keyboard and
Power Supply
Tray
Cabinet
Aircraft
Power Supply
System
Rack
System
Processing Unit
Sensor
Operator’s
Plate
Seat
AARRCCHHEERR OOnnbbooaarrdd CCoommppoonneennttss
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