of raspberry pi is a flexible system with a wide range of use cases, from retro gaming platforms to industrial use cases such as factories. Today we share one research team’s scientific take on his favorite SBC and find out how it compares to the latest more expensive tools. Liam Taylor, Duncan Quincy and Mark Smith recently deployed a series of Raspberry Pis to monitor glacier melting. Iceland and Peru.
The research team said extreme changes could have environmental impacts on local populations, so it’s important to monitor the birthing front. For example, tsunamis, floods, and iceberg eruptions can cause severe damage, and monitoring these changes can help people living nearby to react before problems escalate. Part of their research included testing the performance of the Raspberry Pi in monitoring these changes compared to the traditional tools they typically use, in this case an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). I was.
The team traveled to Fjallsjökull, Iceland to test the Pi against a UAV surveillance system. Here we were able to explore the glacier both from the shore and from the boat. The area also has different calving margin heights, making it easier to test the accuracy of the Raspberry Pi.
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The Raspberry Pi was tested with both the camera module V2 and the HQ camera module with a 16mm telephoto lens. The camera module V2 proved too inadequate for the measurements, so the team decided to use the HQ camera module. The UAV chosen to compare with the Pi was the DJI Mavic 2 Pro UAV. I then mounted the Raspberry Pi on a tripod and stored critical components such as the battery inside a weatherproof box.
The team put some Pi on the boat as they passed while the UAV moved overhead. Recording glaciers simultaneously allowed the team to accurately compare the charting abilities of both devices. Using photos taken by Pi, the team used photogrammetry to create his 3D rendering of the glacier.
Overall, the Pi provided a decent alternative at a more affordable price point. Once testing was complete, they left for Peru, where they used Raspberry Pi kits to monitor glacier breakup in the cold regions of South America. For more information on the exciting expedition, visit the team’s official website. report.
