Intro to Remotely Piloted Systems
ESRM 370 • Spring 2016
When & Where Fri 10– 1150 in Sierra 2314 & Fri Afternoon Elsewhere
Contacts Dr. Sean Anderson, M 2-250(BTW1265), F 900-950(Sierra 2314)
Text: (504) 475-7447 or Voice: (805) 732-2732
Sean.Anderson@csuci.edu
Mr. Todd VanEpps (858) 243-4182 t.vanepps@yahoo.com
Mr. Chase Tillman chase.tillman@csuci.edu
Mr. Paul Spaur paul.spaur@csuci.edu
Course Description
In this course we will explore the emerging array of Remotely Piloted Systems increasingly available as “off the shelf” technology within the price point and technological ability of many environmental professionals. We will become familiar with the array of platforms, their potential usage to support coastal and marine monitoring and management, and (to the extent permissible) gain practical experience with these instruments. We will also touch upon data collected with these instruments and application of that data to extant management situations.
Schedule Overview
Given the dynamic nature of both El Nino storms and the restriction placed on our use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, our schedule is a rough guide only and will certainly evolve over the semester. Our general schedule will focus on conceptual, policy, societal, and legal issues related to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles over the initial weeks of our class. We will next move onto practical flying skills. These will begin with computer-based simulators, move onto to smaller trainer platforms, and ultimately to platforms appropriate for research/professional applications. Please see our tentative schedule at the end of the syllabus for known days where we will not be holding class, etc.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, you should understand and be able to clearly articulate:
- the current use and perceptions of Remotely Piloted Systems.
- common hazards associated with Remotely Piloted Systems and practical approaches to avoid such hazards and use these systems safely and responsibly.
- common types of aerial platforms and their capabilities.
- common sensors utilized by Remotely Piloted Systems.
- be able to safely and effectively pilot and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle.
Course Evaluation
You will be graded on your participation, blog posts, assignments, and skill proficiency as follows:
20% Participation & Progress (attendance, clear progression, deadlines, etc.)
10% Blog Updates & Scoop.It posts
10% Other Assignments & Write-Ups
20% UAV Poll (in-person surveys, aggregate analysis, etc.)
40% Practical Skills Evaluations (including prep, and breakdown, metadata, etc.)
Grade Break Down: A = 90-100%, B = 80-89%, C = 70-79%, D = 60-69%, F ≤ 59%
Please note that I use the “+” and “-” system (e.g. B- = 80-82%, B = 83–86%, B+ = 87-89%)
Weekly Postings
Scoop.It posts (to our Remotely Piloted Systems page) by Friday at 9:00am
This can be anything related to drones in the broadest possible sentence. Please add in at least one or two descriptive sentences (in the “add your insight” box) and some relevant keywords (under the advanced tab in the “tag.it” box).
Class Blog
New Posting (to our ESRM370.piratelab.org blog) by Monday at 9:00am
Each of your given week’s blog posts will consist of at least two paragraphs of observations/insights wherein you include at least 3 hyperlinks to content outside of your page and at least one picture or video or audio file. Make sure to properly reference the source of any materials you did not collect yourself.
The topic/theme for each of your weekly posts will migrate through this rotation:
Conservation (“conservation” or “environment”)
Search & rescue/EMS/disaster response (“search and rescue” or “EMS”)
Sensors (“sensor”)
Business or behavior (“economic” or “economy” or “poll”)
Conservation (“conservation” or “environment”)
Entertainment or art (“art”)
Illegal or highly dangerous/risky uses (“illegal” or “crime” or “idiot”)
Anti drone technology or failure/accident (“anti” or “fail” or “crash”)
Legislation or lawsuit (“legal” or “legislation” or “policy”)
Conservation (“conservation” or “environment”)
Entertainment or art (“art”)
New technology (“innovation”)
We will begin your postings on week 4 (week of Feb 15). For that first week, we will have the following assignments. After that we will rotate through the topics (e.g. Hunter will do Conservation week 4, the following week he’ll do Search and Rescue, etc.).
Hunter: Conservation
Antonella: Search & rescue/EMS/disaster response
Tara: Sensors
Corey: Business or behavior
Tim: Conservation
Casey: Entertainment or art
Tyler: Illegal or highly dangerous/risky uses
Angel: Anti drone technology or failure/accident
Becca: Legislation or lawsuit
Elliot: Conservation
Patrick: Entertainment or art
Leo: New technology
Comment on at least three other postings (at least three sentences per individual comment) from that week by Thursday at 9:00am.
Opinion Polling
Online Polls (link pending) will run through the first week of April. Please distribute the link as far and wide as possible once we disseminate it. Any and all venues are appropriate, but the more widely circulated/the more general the audience the better. All of the data collection for this component will be handled automatically and you need not do anything short of encouraging folks to take it/trying to disseminate the instrument.
In-Person Surveys (link pending) I will provide you with sample polls for us to start the process during week three. You will be required to survey 40 people by March 11th, with no more than 20 people surveyed at any one location. Our survey locations range includes any public spaces from Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara Counties. Upon completion of the survey instrument, you will enter the responses into a worksheet so as to compare how our local residents feel compared to the wider public.
The first 5 polls (completed and entered) will be due 9am, Feb 26th.
The remaining 35 will be due by 9am, March 18th.
Tentative Intro to RPS Schedule Guest Speakers in blue
Week 1
January 29: Intros & Logistics; Paul Spaur: AARR Research
Week 2
January 5: Opinion Poll Discussions & Brainstorming; Begin Simulators
Week 3
February 12: President Rush: Innovation; Jon Rupprecht: Drone Law (Zoom)
Week 4
February 19: Safety Overview; Rick Larsen Legal Challenges
Week 5
February 26: Systems Overview; Alan AeroVironment; Begin Microquads
Week 6
March 4: SensFly????
Week 7
March 11: SensFly???? MAST Center????
Week 8
March 18: No Formal Class Planned; Dr. A to New Orleans
Spring Break No Class March 25
Week 9
April 1: No Formal Class Planned; Poll Closes; In-Person Polls Due
Week 10
April 8: TBD; Begin Full quads
Week 11
April 15: TBD
Week 12
April 22: TBD
Week 13
April 29: TBD
Week 14
May 6: TBD
Week 15
May 13: Debrief; UAV Scholarship Proposal Due; Final Practical Tests
Finals Week Final Flights; Repeat Practical Exam (If Needed)
