Members of several labs here at UCF braved a Central Florida heatwave to complete operation training of our newly acquired Harris HE6 hexacopter UAV, Phoenix mini-RANGER 3 Lite LiDAR, and related processing software. The NDAA-compliant platform offers outstanding payload capacity and versatility. It will support various research applications across disciplines such as civil engineering, computer science, marine biology, and archaeology in the UCF community.
For ground applications, the LiDAR unit can be mounted on an independent track system, which may then be secured to an SUV or a suitably equipped utility task vehicle (UTV). A Ladybug 5+ 360° camera can also be attached to capture high-quality panoramic imagery that complements the LiDAR data. This configuration enables scanning streets, accompanying bridges and terrain, and expansive areas such as fields.
Together, these systems will enable the rapid acquisition of spatial data in areas beyond the reach of our current terrestrial scanners. They will support a wide range of research activities conducted by UCF faculty and students across multiple disciplines.
This equipment is funded by a National Science Foundation – Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI) – Track 1 grant. Award Number: 2408003.
Special thanks to Dr. Amy Giroux for her photography and for Hunter’s patience and guidance all week.