Archer trac module_1_-_intro_v1

ARCHER TRAC TECHNICIAN

Total Recon Awareness Control

• Philosophy• The Archer Aircrew consists of a GA-8 pilot, co-pilot (or experienced GA-8

Observer), Archer Operator and Archer Trac Technician in most situations.

• Preference is for Archer Trac Technicians who can be available, on mission base for an Archer Mission within one hour of notification.

• Archer Trac, all documents and software regarding them are for use by any current CAP member within the guidelines of the ARCHER Concept of Employment.

• The ARCHER Trac technician is NOT authorized to power up or otherwise operate the ARCHER airborne or ground station equipment. At this time only ARCHER operators are authorized to operate the airborne and ground station equipment, unless otherwise provided for in the ARCHER Conemp.

ARCHER TRAC TECHNICIAN

Loading ARCHER TRAC software

ARCHER TRAC software may be installed on a computer for the exclusive use of Civil Air Patrol within the guidelines of the ARCHER Concept of Employment (Conemp).

ARCHER TRAC folder must be in the root directory of drive you’re installing it on (i.e c:\ ).

The ARCHER TRAC software is approximately 3.5 mb. The sectional maps take an additional 1.25 gb.

You do not need to load all of the sectional maps if you’re planning on using the computer for training only; operational ARCHER TRAC computers must have all sectional maps installed.

Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

1. Describe the function of the following:

a) ARCHER airborne system

b) ARCHER ground station

c) ARCHER TRAC

2. State the design aircraft altitude and ground speed for an ARCHER mission.

3. Describe the function of the ARCHER TRAC controls.

4. Given mission parameters, correctly set up the ARCHER TRAC to ensure sensor coverage of the target area.

5. Describe the verbal cues given to the ARCHER aircrew during mission execution.

Learning Objectives

6. While providing navigation information to the pilot, fly a predetermined search pattern during 2 sorties .

7. Import existing mission data to the ARCHER TRAC.

8. Export mission data from the ARCHER TRAC.

9. Explain ARCHER TRAC technician pre and post flight briefing responsibilities.

10. Describe how the ARCHER TRAC technician impacts mission effectiveness.

ARCHER Hardware

ARCHER Hardware

The ARCHER airborne system contains an advanced hyperspectral imaging sensor and a panchromatic high-resolution imaging camera.

ARCHER also contains a GPS and inertial navigation system. Together, these components allow the system to accurately position each pixel on a virtual map during a mission.

The ARCHER TRAC pc receives aircraft position, heading, attitude, and altitude AGL information from the ARCHER system.

ARCHER Hardware

After the mission flight is complete, the data obtained by the sensors can be easily transferred to the ARCHER ground station.

The ground station has the same advanced data processing capabilities as the airborne system. With two high-resolution monitors, the mission data can be replayed for further analysis, in-depth review, or training. The second monitor allows the chip viewer to be displayed simultaneously with the plotted search area image.

Simultaneously with the real-time imagery processing, ARCHER plots the ground area swept by the sensors on a handheld tablet PC designated ARCHER TRAC. ARCHER TRAC is a mission navigation and tracking tool that helps the crew ensure that imagery data iscollected from the entire search area.

Key waypoints are easily programmed into ARCHER TRAC. The ground area that is covered by the ARCHER sensors is superimposed on a standard aviation sectional map.

ARCHER Hardware

System Interaction

HSI Sensor Resolution

• HSI sensor resolution depends on ground speed and altitude above ground level.

504 pixels

500 meters

2,500 ft AGL

504 pixels

1,000 meters

5,000 ft AGL

• Standard mission is 2500 AGL, 100 knots ground speed.

GPS/INS

• C-MIGITS II integrated GPS/INS system determines 3D position, heading, attitude, and velocity on a real-time basis

• GPS and INS units work together to provide position and attitude data to ARCHER.

Target Detection

• Three target detection algorithms:

Anomaly Detection: Detects objects that do not belong in the scene.

Signature Matching: Compares light reflected from the ground against a library of spectral signatures to detect specific targets.

Change Detection: Compares current ground conditions against ground conditions that were obtained in a previous mission over the same area, and detects spectral differences.

Illumination Requirements

Illumination Guideline

If you can clearly see objects on the ground, then there is enough light for ARCHER.

Illumination Requirements

• Best time of day is solar noon with the sun high in the sky.

Provides maximum solar illumination and maximum reflected light.

• Missions can be flown at other times of the day.

In low light conditions, ARCHER will be less able to distinguish between similarly colored objects.

May reduce ability to identify targets.

• At dusk there is not enough light.

ARCHER TRAC

Tablet PC-based real-time mission navigation aid

ARCHER TRAC

• Communicates with ARCHER over wired Ethernet connection

• Provides real-time navigation and search area information to ensure 100% search area coverage

• Saves mission flight data

Starts recording when comm link established

Stops when ARCHER or TRAC shut down

Module review




c) ARCHER TRAC


3. State the resolution of the following sensors at design altitude and ground speed conditions:

a) Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) sensor

b) Panchromatic high-resolution imaging (HRI) sensor

Module review

4. Name the three target detection algorithms:

a) Anomaly Detection: Detects objects that do not belong in the scene.

b) Signature Matching: Compares light reflected from the ground against a library of spectral signatures to detect specific targets.

c) Change Detection: Compares current ground conditions against ground conditions that were obtained in a previous mission over the same area, and detects spectral differences.

5. Guideline for Illumination: If you can clearly see objects on the ground, then there is enough light for ARCHER.

Module review




c) ARCHER TRAC


8. State the resolution of the following sensors at design altitude and ground speed conditions:

a) Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) sensor

b) Panchromatic high-resolution imaging (HRI) sensor

Module review

9. Describe the function of ARCHER TRAC.ARCHER TRAC is a mission navigation and tracking tool that helps the crew ensure that imagery data is collected from the entire search area.

Reference Documents

Aircrew and Flightline Tasks 11 April 2005

Archer Operations Manual Rev 2G

Archer Trac Technician Manual Rev 1

Archer Concept of Employment April 2009

Archer Pre-mission Pilot Briefing Rev1A

Archer trac module_1_-_intro_v1

Documents

Transcript of Archer trac module_1_-_intro_v1