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This paper describes the latest version of the University of Florida (UF)'s umnanned autonomous vehicle (UAV), named the MAKO MAKO. The MAKO MAKO can operate in hilly autonomous way-point navigation mode, including autonomous takeoff and landing, allowing for repeatable, predictable ground coverage. Other features essential for the mission profile include hand-lunch ability takeoff, as well as a waterproof fuselage lot aquatic landing. Low-altitude, high-resolution imaging is facilitated by a cruise speed of 15 m/s. The sensor payload on the MAKO is a digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera operated at the shortest exposure to minimize the effect of motion During. The resulting images are capable of resolving objects on the ground as small as six cm. The MAKO has been used for a number of applications, including mapping wading bird nests in the Florida Everglades and elsewhere, monitoring the efficacy of defoliant spray programs in Lake Okeechobee, identification of invasive exotic vegetation, and mapping of bison. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides information on the unmanned aircraft system (UAS), also known as the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system's ecological research and natural-resource monitoring tool of the Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. It relates that the research unit has assembled its own criteria for UAV, in which it is hand-launched and operable by one or two people not trained as pilots. They also design a UAV that has the capability for autonomous operation using a computer autopilot, and imagery geo-referencing capability. In addition, the research unit's UAV system is powered by an electric motor and rechargeable batteries, with a global positioning system-guided autopilot that enables autonomous navigation.