PR-417-203902-R02 Remote Sensing and Leak Detection Platform that Can Deploy Multiple Sensor Types

American Aerospace Technologies, Inc. has conducted a pilot project for the Pipeline Research Council, International to evaluate the performance of an automated threat detection system onboard a medium alti-tude, long endurance unmanned aircraft capable of beyond visual line of sight flight that can be used in the pipeline industry for routine patrol and surveillance as a risk reduction solution. The unmanned aircraft system test program evaluation was conducted at Test Site(s) in Pendleton, Oregon, Woodbine, New Jersey, and San Joaquin Valley, California using American Aerospace sensors, unmanned aircraft, test facilities and equipment.

The primary objective of the project was to validate the performance of a remote sensing system capable of automated multi-threat surveillance, monitoring, and rapid reporting – operating on a long-range, long-endurance medium altitude unmanned aircraft capable of patrolling hundreds of miles of pipeline right-of-way per flight. The project included four flight campaigns that generated data from multiple sensors over staged and opportunistic targets, tested multiple algorithms, and measured key performance parameters on aerial patrol. In what is believed to be an industry first, an attempt was made to develop industry-wide aerial patrol performance guidance – key performance indicators – for sensor-based imminent threat detection sensitivity, reliability, robustness, and accuracy in alignment with industry standards for existing operator leak detection programs.

Performance of the automated threat detection system on both manned and unmanned aircraft was com-pared by analyzing data from flights over staged targets and over a 78-mile pipeline corridor – flown by both types of aircraft – on the same day and at the same patrol altitudes. Differences in aircraft performance were also evaluated. Lastly, unmanned aircraft flight data was utilized as part of an ongoing application to the Federal Aviation Administration to integrate long-range unmanned aircraft into the national airspace in support for routine pipeline patrol.