Patent ID: 9503696
Filing Date: 2016-11-22
CPC Classification: B64D,G01N,G08G,H04N

Claim Text:
1. A system for detecting airborne volcanic ash comprising: an air vehicle, a camera mounted to said air vehicle that outputs image data representing captured images of a distant point-like light source, and a computer system in communication with said camera for receiving said image data, wherein said computer system is programmed to process the image data from said camera to determine whether the image data comprises at least one visual feature indicative of a volcanic plume-induced effect due to the presence of a volcanic plume in the space between the air vehicle and the distant point-like light source or not, wherein said camera is directed toward the distant point-like light source, and wherein the volcanic plume-induced effect comprises one or more of the following: change in refraction, scintillation, change in polarization, and corona shape.