Shobhit Niranjan
Head, Computer Vision
1) Aurora Integrated Systems, 2) Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur,
Email: shobhit.niranjan@aurora-is.com
Numerous researchers have proposed the use of robotic aerial explorers to perform scientific investigation of planetary
bodies in our solar system. One of the essential tasks for any aerial explorer is to be able to perform scientifically
valuable imaging surveys. The focus of this paper is to discuss the challenges implicit in, and recent observations
related to, acquiring mission-representative imaging data from a small fixed-wing UAV, acting as a surrogate planetary
aerial explorer. This question of successfully performing aerial explorer surveys is also tied to other topics of technical
investigation, including the development of unique bio-inspired technologies.