Sensor placement for aerial photography and FPV racing

DJI T600 Inspire and Storm SRD-280 Sensor Placement

Jason Bach

          ASCI 605 – Unmanned Systems Sensing, Perception, and Processing

         Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide

9/27/2016

DJI T600 Inspire Quadcopter

            The DJI T600 Inspire was chosen to perform aerial photography services below 400 feet. It is a quadcopter that can be purchased for approximately $2,000 dollars ready to fly and has a full motion view 4K camera mounted on a 3-axis gimbal underneath the platforms main body and four rotors (HobbyKing, 2016).  The following Figure 1 is a picture of the DJI T600 Inspire.

 

Figure 1. DJI T600 Inspire. Adapted from http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store /__75615__DJI_T600_Inspire_1_Quadcopter_with_4K_Camera_and_3_Axis_Gimbal.html?gclid=CNLgkdfKrs8CFU06gQodKjoLCg

            The DJI T600 Inspire was designed for aerial photography and has a 360 degree field of view. The modular camera design is easily transported and upgraded if required. The 4K video and 12 megapixel photos use 720p HD and live video output. The flight is managed by advanced battery algorithms for battery life and flight management. There are specific buttons for FPV needs if required for video and photo capture. There is a gimbal control dial, HDMI and USB port allowing mobile devices to be connected, and it is also smart phone controllable. It has a one-click takeoff and landing feature with a return-to-home function also. The max flight time is approximately 18 minutes with a maximum flight altitude of 1,500 feet and weighs less than seven pounds. The following Figure 2 is a depiction of the DJI camera. The Zenmuse FC350 camera has optical flow technology, a UV filter, an anti-distortion filter, and burst shooting capabilities. The DJI T600 Inspire platform was designed for and will perform well in aerial photography at an affordable repair and operational cost.

 

Figure 2. DJI camera. Adapted from http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store /__75615__DJI_T600_Inspire_1_Quadcopter_with_4K_Camera_and_3_Axis_Gimbal.html?gclid=CNLgkdfKrs8CFU06gQodKjoLCg

Storm Racing Drone SRD-280

            The SRD-280 is a very stable fast FPV racer. It comes with six pre-loaded flight modes for FPV racing or practice. There is also a beginner, freestyle, and sport modes for flying in stabilized modes or acro mode for faster speeds and greater pilot control (Helipal, 2016). These six flight modes are unique to the SRD-280 making it a competitive FPV racer. It has a FPV Foxeer CMOS camera which has great image quality in all lighting with adjustments for each flying style chosen. Camera sensor placement is optimal for FPV racing on the front of the racer with tilt adjustment, smooth video quality in flight, and 75 degree FOV with real time video feeds on the FPV monitor bought separately (Helipal, 2016). It weighs approximately 500 grams, flies for approximately 20 minutes on its battery, and costs just under $400 dollars without the FPV monitor. The SRD-280 racing drone is one of the top three racing drones in popularity today and is built specifically to compete in FPV racing and drone racing events around the world (Best Drone for the Job, 2016). The following Figure 3 depicts the drone and its camera sensor placement.

Figure 3. FPV Storm Racing Drone SRD280 and camera. Adapted from http://www.helipal

.com/storm-racing-drone-bnf-srd280.html?gclid=CO3IoPrYrs8CFdgegQodtV4JWQ

References

Best Drone for the Job. (2016, July 1). Best drone for the job buyers guide. Retrieved from

            http://bestdroneforthejob.com/drones-for-fun/racing-drone-buyers-guide-2/

Helipal. (2016). Storm racing drone SRD-280. Retrieved from http://www.helipal.com/storm-

            racing-drone-bnf-srd280.html?gclid=CO3IoPrYrs8CFdgegQodtV4JWQ

HobbyKing.com. (2016). DJI T600 Inspire 1 Quadcopter with 4K Camera and 3-Axis Gimbal.

Retrieved from http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__75615__DJI_T600 _Inspire_1_Quadcopter_with_4K_Camera_and_3_Axis_Gimbal.html?gclid=CNLgkdfKrs8CFU06gQodKjoLCg

Bluefin 21 AUV - Search for MH370

Jason Bach

          ASCI 605 – Unmanned Systems Sensing, Perception, and Processing

         Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide

9/16/2016

            Maritime autonomous unmanned vehicles have been used more recently for different situations due to the advanced technology being used which has greatly improved their efficiency, consumer confidence, and uses. The Bluefin 21 was put in the limelight for aiding in the oceanic search for Malaysian Flight MH370 which crashed into the Indian Ocean with 239 passengers on March 8^th of 2014 (Pearlman, 2014). The Bluefin 21 dove to depths of 14,800 feet covering 42 square miles on its first four dives in search of MH370 wreckage (Pearlman, 2014). The following Figure1 depicts the Bluefin 21 search diagram.  

 

Figure 1. Bluefin 21 search for MH370. Retrieved from http://www.livescience.com/44952-how-the-bluefin-21-searches-for-flight-370-wreckage-on-the-ocean-floor-infographic.html

Sensor Systems for the Bluefin 21

The sensor package used on the Bluefin 21 consisted of  side scan sonar, an acoustic modem for communication at depths, a sub-bottom profiler, a Synthetic aperture sonar, an imaging sonar, a multi-beam echosounder, a video camera, and a still camera (General Dynamics, 2016). A towed hypersensitive hydrophone from the support vessel can detect signals up to 6,000 meters deep relayed from the AUV. The Bluefin 21 uses an Inertial Navigation Sensor for navigation accuracy underwater along with a USBL system, a LBL system, a Doppler Velocity Logger, an altimeter, a pressure sensor, a compass, an Inertial Measurement Unit, an Acoustic tracking transponder, and a GPS (General Dynamics, 2016). The operator tool suite provides a laptop interface for planning, monitoring and execution, data management, and post-mission analysis of the Bluefin 21 with real time data provided to the operator during the mission. The following Figure 2 depicts the Bluefin 21 while being deployed.

Figure 2. Bluefin 21. Adapted from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/

malaysia/10774740/Malaysia-Airlines-MH370-Bluefin-21-submarine-reprogrammed-to-reach-record-depth.html

Possible Improvements to the Bluefin 21

            The Bluefin 21 is a very versatile and successful AUV. Two possible additions to make it even better would be extending the operational time underwater with an alternate power system to compliment the lithium battery life which is currently at 25 hours of operation. Another option to add would be a deployable arm to grasp and retrieve small objects or move debris on the ocean bottom. These additions would improve options available for different missions required.

Combining Maritime Unmanned Systems with UAV’s to Enhance Operations

            Maritime systems could be used in conjunction with unmanned aerial systems to enhance their effectiveness. Data could be collected or relayed from AUV to UAV over longer distances possibly at a faster speed depending on environmental conditions operated in. Working together would be more feasible as the UAV could use the AUV to identify objects up close once the UAV has located it from the air. Once objects are found by the UAV the AUV could then retrieve the object if capable and return to the support vessel. Twice the sensors and capabilities with combined usage of AUV’s and UAV’s can only be better especially in search and rescue situations on the ocean or other large body of water.

Advantages of Unmanned Maritime Systems vs Manned Systems

            Unmanned maritime systems have advantages over manned maritime systems in some areas of operation. One obvious advantage is no human life is danger while the unmanned system is operating in or under water. A second advantage is the versatility, small size, and less funding needed to procure and operate the maritime unmanned systems. Again if military operations are involved no human lives are in danger of being injured or lost during weapon deployment or if the enemy attacks the boat, ship, or submarine involved. Unmanned maritime systems never get tired, rarely break down, can be programmed to multitask, and can be used in several applications with different sensor payloads. The maritime unmanned systems are comprised of multiple sensor packages of which many sensors perform better than manned maritime vessels with the unmanned system operating at a fraction of the cost in comparison to its manned equivalent.   

References

General Dynamics. (2016). Bluefin Robotics. Retrieved from http://www.bluefinrobotics.com

/vehicles-batteries-and-services/bluefin-21

Pearlman, J. (2014, April 18).  Malaysia Airlines MH370: Bluefin-21 submarine reprogrammed

to reach record depth. The Telegraph. Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk /news/worldnews/asia/malaysia/10774740/Malaysia-Airlines-MH370-Bluefin-21-submarine-reprogrammed-to-reach-record-depth.html

Tate, Karl. (2014, April 18). How the Bluefin-21 searches for Flight 370 wreckage on the

ocean floor. Retrieved from http://www.livescience.com/44952-how-the-bluefin-21-searches-for-flight-370-wreckage-on-the-ocean-floor-infographic.html

New LeddarTech LiDAR info

     LeddarTech introduced its new platform for LiDAR in its ranging and detection sensor. It is initially being used in autonomous driving vehicles due to its compact size, robust performance, and relative cost efficiency in today’s market. It will have a range of 250 meters, 140 degree FOV, and its LiDAR will produce 480,000 points per second. Optical components can be changed on the sensor to perform better for specific uses or vehicles. It weighs only 75 grams and provides multi-obstacle detection without interference from other sensors or with bad lighting conditions with snow and rain. Low cost, less weight, more compact, higher efficiency, and multi-platform use makes this sensor a very marketable technology. It will be used for collision avoidance and navigation in autonomous as well as semi-autonomous vehicles in heavy equipment, public transport, buses, trucks, and many drones of varying sizes. Advancing technology for improved safety and efficiency in today’s market.  Take a look at LedderTech’s sensors and other unmanned vehicle technology and see what they have to offer.

  

References

Unmanned Systems Technology. (2016, September 8). LeddarTech launches new high-resolution LiDAR platform. Retrieved from http://www.unmannedsystemstechnology.com/2016/09/leddartech-launches-new-high-resolution-lidar-platform/