Although not for NDVI but worth a mention for anyone looking at converting a camera into IR only. 

I have had sucess using a DIY filter made out of blank processed camera film from a disposable camera. So long as you can still find somewhere to process the film (or do it yourself) you just cut the processed film (negatives) and replace the digital cameras IR filter (placed over the cameras sensor). This will simply turn the camera into an IR camera only so won't fit your requirement for NDVI but thought that it is worth posting if others are looking at converting a camera or Go-Pro into an IR camera. 

Hi CHippie - I am wondering how your thoughts are progressing on this topic? Please let us know an update.

Thanks

Michael

NASA/NOAA did something like this with microbuoys for ocean temp sensing in the arctic - drone deploys (drops) micrbuoys and repeatedly returns to fly over fetching data over the following days and weeks

http://www.arcticobservingsummit.org/sites/arcticobservingsummit.org/files/Bradley_Microbuoys_AOS.pdf

Do you have a specific use case /location in mind?

If we could find research funding I'd be interested, I can fly &build UAS but this is also an interesting data management opportunity which I'm very interested in.

Perhaps you could mod the Ardupilot tracking antenna system if really needed but if you're flying in the vicinity with line of sight I bet you don't even need to aim the antenna 

I've seen a couple of papers on similar capabilities, both with airborne drones as well as underwater drones, so there've been folks working on it. @emjay has a good point that the sensor nodes need to support this, which could be a bit tricky depending on your tolerance for battery life. What types of sensors are you thinking about supporting?

Hi Chris,

Your project sounds interesting! How's it coming along? 

I'm based in the SF Bay Area. I don't have much drone experience, but it's something that I've been looking into recently. I'm currently working on a face recgnition system for brown bears with a bear researcher in BC, Canada. The goal is to identify bears on the data from camera traps to monitor populations and such. Currently the data is only collected a few times a season.

I agree with @emjay that the ground assets may be an issue. Do you have any thoughts on that front?

In any case, if you have some time in the coming weeks, I'd be happy to get together in the coming weeks to talk it over.

Ed

Hi Mazidi,

A couple of options;

- Marco Polo.    http://eurekaproducts.com/rc-model-tracking-and-recovery/    

I know of people who have relocated their machine using this device.   

- Conventional VHF for wildlife tracking.  old but solid technology.

Also have a look at commercial / open source devices used for model rockets.

regards

MJ

EDIT: I see that you have already identified Marco Polo.

Hi Mazidi, all the systems that I recommended are separate systems with their own GPS, not connected to the drone.

Just the last one was the only finished product.

Good luck. Please tell us if you found something good and cheap!

There's also GitLab. Again, it's probably not perfect as it's designed for coding, but I'm currently using it with a conference organising committee.

I personally think a wiki would be best. 

People in this thread might be interested in this special issue of remote sensing in ecology and conservation, looking for papers on "New Approaches to Citizen Science". Submissions close 15th July 

http://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/hub/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)2056-3485/journal-menu/call-for-papers.html

Hi Marcelo,

To improve autonomy, you'll either need less weight on your drone, better batteries, or what about a fixed wing aircraft? Look at the parrot disco - it's much cheaper than the eBee, and you can outfit it with a downward facing camera instead of the forward, though it seems from your video, the one it has is fine). Those things can fly much longer than copters.

best,

aurélie