710359Smart On-Board UAV Thermal Signature Analysis for Surveillance, Tracking and NavigationClosedGRD Proof of ConceptInnovate UKUnmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have been the most dynamic growth sector of the world aerospace industry in the last 10 yrs with expenditure forecast to double over the next decade from current worldwide expenditures of $6.6 bn annually to almost $11.4 bn by 2020. Although military applications have to date dominated technology development and market expansion, it is the use of UAVs in civil applications that is expected to drive much of this growth. Being smaller than manned aircraft, UAVs are more easily & cost effectively stored, operated and transported. They are also well suited to perform long monitoring tasks with an ability to function in environments hazardous to human occupants. UAVs can also be utilised to support governmental applications such as border control/security, law enforcement and surveillance and it is here that specific growth is expected. Although more cost effective than manned aircrafts and boasting an average detection rate for each flight pattern of >70%, current optical and thermal imagery systems used in UAV surveillance are limited to predefined fixed coordinates, programmed by the operator. Image detection is also a key limitation and highly dependent on flight altitude, camera orientation and the experience of the operator. RNC Avionics (RNC) aim to develop a novel integrated on-board imaging system that will employ algorithms for 'thermal signature’ analysis, for detecting heat trails left by a vehicle/vessel and explore this in real time (together other on-board sensors) for adjustment of its flight plan. Once the object of interest has been identified, the direction of its movement will be analysed using the video analytics techniques. The results will be used to autonomously alter the UAV pre-defined surveillance flight plan to ensure that the object is continuously tracked. This approach offers a step change in current capabilities with significant potential to change the way thermal imaging is used in UAV surveillance.