After successful operations in USA (Odessa crater) and Russia (Tunguska event place) the UAV-MAG is currently flying in the hot Australia (Snowy Mountains – Jindabyne). Unfortunately there was also a first incident concerning the unit, the sensor cable got extremely twisted, probably while entering some air turbulence. The magnetic field mapping will continue with the base station unit, while repairing the damaged unit here at Maglab.
Info concerning the the earlier operations:
Fluxgate magnetometers developed and manufactured at the Department of Measurement, MAGLAB were used during multiple expeditions for magnetic anomaly surveys led by Dr. Günther Kletetschka (Charles University, IG CAS). Miniaturized version of a triaxial vector fluxgate magnetometer originated from a bachelor thesis project by Martin Pešek. Other students also participated in the project – Michal Dressler (firmware and calibration), David Novotný (testing), Pavel Doubrava (display unit firmware). Two identical magnetometers were used, one served as a base station for monitoring of magnetic field changes in time and their later compensation, the second was carried on UAV. The fluxgate sensor itself was hanging approximately two meters below the drone, equipped with a stabilizing wing (see pictures). The surveys were conducted in South Bohemia and Brdy in the Czech Republic, over Texas – USA (Odessa crater) and lately Tunguska event place in Russia.
