CAP's Advanced Technologies Group
Employing advanced technologies to perform tomorrow's missions today.
Emerging technologies continue to enhance Civil Air Patrol's capabilities. Here are some of the latest technolgies in use now by CAP:
Satellite Toolkit
Through a partnership with Analytical Graphics, Inc., CAP enjoys using AGI's Satellite Toolkit (STK) in all three of CAP's missions:
Aerospace Education - STK is taught at the annual Aerospace Education Academy in Oshkosh, WI. STK is also used by CAP's teacher-members in the classroom to help track the International Space Station (ISS) in orbit, as well as other classroom activities. CAP is also developing a complete STK activity booklet for schools and groups to use nationwide.
Cadet Programs - STK is taught at the two annual Advanced Technologies Academies. STK is also used at the local squadron to enhance the cadets' progression through their mandatory aerospace education program.
Emergency Services - STK is used by CAP incident commanders and other emergency personnel to track search and rescue satellite orbits and to plot search track coverage.
Click here to take a look at CAP's educational materials that support STK!
Satellite Digital Imaging
CAP now has the capability to not only take digital images from the air, but to transmit these images via satellite to any email or web address in the world. The process is so quick, that the receiver can call back on the satellite phone to talk with the air crew while they are still over the target area!
Click here to find out more or to take an introductory course!
Hyperspectral Imaging
CAP is conducting acceptability tests now on a Hyperspectral Imaging System, called ARCHER (Airborne Real-time Cueing Hyperspectral Enhanced Recon).
ARCHER has two methods for finding things: signature matching (matching reflected light to spectral signatures), and anomaly detection (calculates a statistical model of all the pixels in the image to see if there is a probability that a pixel does not fit).
Training has already begun on this new system! If you are interested, contact your wing's director of emergency services for details.
Click here to download the ARCHER presentation given by Dr. Karl at the June 2005 Florida Wing Conference!
Welcome Letter from Colonel Drew Alexa, CAP
As the Director of CAP's Advanced Technologies Group, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the CAP Advanced Technologies Group's (ATG) website.
The ATG is comprised of CAP volunteers from different areas of the country, who have various educational and professional backgrounds. The group has been assembled to identify, test and integrate new advanced technologies into CAP to enhance our mission capabilities through the use of new technology. The ATG staff is working in cooperation with CAP-USAF, NHQ staff and CAP volunteers across the country to insure the success of our initiatives.
This official CAP website has been setup so that the CAP membership and other interested parties have access to the latest information about CAP's advanced technologies initiatives. From time to time, we will post in-depth information on some exciting new CAP advanced technology programs such as the CAP Searchers' Edge Program (Hyperspectral Imaging and a Visual Computing Network) and Beyond The Eyeball Program (Night Vision and Thermal Imaging). Also, this website is your source of information for our nationally recognized CAP-STK Aerospace Education Program.
CAP is embarking on a new leg of it's 65 year long journey of Missions for America. As we continue this journey, we will have to use proven mission capabilities and skills combined with exciting cutting edge technology for our SAR, CD and DR and HLS missions. The infusion of technology is a must in order for CAP to be an effective force multiplier working along side different agencies tasked with new HLS missions. Technology is the common denominator which allows the many different agencies and organizations interoperability and the ability to share information, especially as it relates to HLS missions.
Gov Tom Ridge said, "Take all the technology assets the we have in Government and elsewhere and use them in such a way, fuse the information in such a way, share the information in such a way that we can hopefully prevent future terrorist attacks."
On behalf of all ATG team members, thank you for visiting our website. If you have any suggestions, comments and/or questions regarding this website or any of our advanced technology initiatives, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Drew Alexa
Visit CAP's Advanced Technologies Group Website!
NOTE: LINKS OR REFERENCES TO INDIVIDUALS OR COMPANIES DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN ENDORSEMENT OF ANY INFORMATION, PRODUCT OR SERVICE YOU MAY RECEIVE FROM SUCH SOURCES.
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