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| Retrieved from Panoptesuav.com |
The solution selected for a sense and
avoid system for a small UAS (less than 55 pounds) has to be one that will not
negatively impact the performance of the sUAS.
The additional weight and power requirements can reduce the flight time
or affect the power available to other sensor payloads. One sense and avoid sensor system available
is the eBumper developed by Panoptes. It
utilizes an innovative echolocation method for object detection. “A drone using a simple camera to ‘see’
its environment is an imperfect solution. “A vision sensor can’t see glass,”
McKenna said, “but echolocation can.” (Amato, 2014)
This system was initially developed by
Aurora Flight Sciences, which performed initial development in support of a
contract award to the Air Force to develop navigation methods for micro UAVs. (Aurora Flight Sciences, 2007) The
technology showed such promise that the company spun off Panoptes in 2014. (Panoptes, 2015)
The eBumper can be retrofitted on any
sUAS; it requires the installation of four sensors for object detection around
the sUAS. Pricing information is not
currently available, although it is estimated to be around $500. (Amato, 2014) The technical specifications for the eBumper are
as follows:
- · Reduction in Flight Time with eBumper: 2-3 minutes
- · Net Weight Increase: 82 grams
- · Distance to Obstacle at Activation: 4.5ft (Precision), 10ft (Performance)
- · Maximum Protected Closure Velocity: 3ft/s (Precision), 9.5ft/s (Performance)
- · Field of View of Sensors: 40 degrees cone (for 2in rod)
- · Sensed Directions: Forward, left, right and up
- · Blind Spots Between Sensors: 50 degrees
- · Currently Supported Aircraft Types: DJI Phantom 2 and 2 Vision
- · Necessary Pilot Skill Level: Medium or higher (>20hrs of flight time)
- · Required Interfaces: NAZA Flight controller (maintains full I/O support with eBumper installed)
The system is configured to provide two
modes of operation: precision and performance.
The precision mode was designed for low speed flights in tight quarters.
”The detection radius of the sensors is 4.5 feet (meaning if you fly within 4.5
feet of a wall, the drone automatically corrects its course) and the drone
takes the detected obstacle into account when receiving subsequent control
inputs from the pilot. Precision Mode also enables auto-takeoff and hover with
the simple flick of a switch.” (Amato, 2014) The performance mode widens the detection
radius of the sensors to 6 feet, which enables higher speed operations. One particular feature of the system is the
fact that in addition of detection, it also corrects the movement of the sUAS
to prevent an impact. Once the sUAS is
in a safe distance from the object in its path it returns control to the
operator.
This sense and avoid system shows promise
for the use of echolocation in sUAS applications. Further development can be concentrated in
possible acoustic environment mapping utilizing a more complex array of
sensors. There are already research
underway that has succeeded in acoustically capturing a snapshot of the
environment with only one sound ping and ten microphones. (Orchard & Etienne-Cumminhs, 2010) Innovative technology such as this one must
be explored to further advance sense and avoid capabilities for UAVs.
References
Amato,
A. (2014, October 31). Drone Flying Made Easy with the Panoptes eBumper.
Retrieved March 3, 2015, from DroneLife.com: http://dronelife.com/2014 /10/31/making-flying-easy-panoptes-e-bumper/
Aurora Flight Sciences. (2007, October 5). AURORA WINS MAV NAVIGATION
DEVELOPMENT CONTRAC. Retrieved March 3, 2015, from Aurora Flight
Sciences: http://www.aurora.aero/media/press/item.aspx?id=apr-188
Orchard, G., & Etienne-Cumminhs, R. (2010). Discriminating Multiple
Nearby Targets Using Single-Ping Ultrasonic Scene Mapping. Circuits and
Systems I: Regular Papers, IEEE Transactions on , 57 (11), 2915-2924.
Panoptes. (2015). THE PANOPTES STORY. Retrieved March 3, 2015,
from Panoptes.com: http://www.panoptesuav.com/our-story/
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