UAS Sensor Placement
The purpose of this paper is to discuss two commercially available unmanned aerial systems (UAS), one to be used to provide aerial photography, and the other to compete on a racing circuit. The two UAS that I have selected are the DJI Inspire 1 with the Zenmuse X3 camera, and the Vortex 250 Pro with the GoPro Hero 5 camera. Both UAS are purpose-built quadcopters for their particular task.
The DJI Inspire 1 is uniquely adapted for aerial photography in that its rotor arms are designed to move out of the way of the gimbaled camera payload, providing an unobstructed 360-degree field of view for the camera. The UAS also includes such features as dual Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) and Global Positioning System (GPS) positioning technology and vision positioning technology. The GLONASS/GPS combination allows the aircraft to locate satellites more quickly, and determine its own location more accurately, than using just one or the other of the satellite systems. The vision positioning system is useful when flying indoors or when the aircraft is unable to acquire satellites, and allows it to remain a fixed distance away from other objects. Finally, its onboard sonar system allows the UAS to determine its altitude above the ground. When operating in tandem with the vision positioning system, this enables the UAS to hover in place without any inputs from the operator. An additional benefit to the sonar system is that the aircraft will automatically lower its arms when getting close to the ground, protecting the camera payload from possible damage. Finally, the UAS’s failsafe feature combines these technologies to allow the aircraft to return to the operator and, if necessary, land autonomously should the connection with controller be lost or the UAS’s battery runs low. The camera itself provides 4k resolution video and 12 megapixel photographs. Additionally, it has a 3-axis stabilized gimbal that is connected to the aircraft’s flight control system, enabling it to provide corrections as the aircraft is moving, keeping the camera perfectly still, making it an optimal choice for aerial photography (Inspire 1 - Aircraft – DJI, n.d.).
The Vortex 250 Pro is a mini-quad copter designed for 250-sized remote control racing. It has a front mounted, forward facing, tiltable mount designed to fit a GoPro camera. The positioning of the camera is important for this type of system in order to give the operator the ability to see what is in the aircraft’s flight path. Additionally, a camera that is able to seamlessly stream high quality video is equally important, which is the reason for the selection of the GoPro Hero 5. The Hero 5 transmits in 4k high definition resolution, includes built in video stabilization, is WiFi and Bluetooth capable, and is ruggedized, enabling it to withstand the shock of a crash (GoPro Hero 5, 2016). The UAS itself is constructed of carbon fiber, making it extremely durable in the event of a crash. The Vortex 250’s control system also includes several technologies that make it optimal for racing in larger groups, to include selectable control and video channels that prevent interference with competitors, and dynamic power control that automatically lowers transmitter power when the UAS is disarmed or when the race is about to start. This is important due to the proximity of other UAS during these situations, so the likelihood of interference is once again reduced. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the Vortex 250 Pro is lightweight and race-tuned. This means that it has a very high power to weight ratio, giving it high acceleration and maneuverability, which are of utmost importance in remote control racing (Vortex 250 Pro, 2017).
References:
Beginner's Guide to FPV Racing. (2015). Retrieved April 08, 2017, from https://
fpvracing.tv/guides/beginners
Bisht, A. (2016, August 25). What is GLONASS And How It Is Different From GPS.
Retrieved April 08, 2017, from https://beebom.com/what-is-glonass-and-how-it-is-
different-from-gps/
GoPro Hero 5. (2016). Retrieved April 08, 2017, from http://shop.gopro.com/cameras
Inspire 1 - Aircraft - DJI. (n.d.). Retrieved April 08, 2017, from http://www.dji.com/inspire-
1/aircraft#sub-feature
Vortex 250 Pro. (2017). Retrieved April 08, 2017, from https://www.immersionrc.com/fpv-
products/vortex-250-pro/