Module 3.4 – UNSY 605

There are a vast array of choices to make when developing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), all of which will have an important impact on the success of the system.  There are many choices that come to the forefront when discussing their impact, such as the power source, the type of engine, and the type of sensor implemented by the UAV.  But one aspect of designing a UAV that has underrated importance to the performance of the system is the placement of sensors on the system.  When systems are being designed, sensor placement decisions should be made based on the application a UAV is intended to accomplish.  In order to demonstrate this principle, I will examine the design structure and sensor placement formats for two different UAV applications:  aerial photography and UAV racing.

One of the most popular uses for commercial UAVs is aerial photography as both a business opportunity and as a hobby.  The business applications of aerial photography include cartography, real estate advertisement, and environmental studies among others.  But as earlier stated, the use of UAVs for aerial photography is also a hobby for many who just enjoy the artistic medium of photography.  There are many versions of UAVs that can accomplish aerial photography for business and pleasure, but I will be evaluating the Yuneec Typhoon Q500 quad-rotor for this examination.  The Typhoon is designed for flight under 400 feet altitude for approximately 30 minutes at a time (Yuneec 2016).  In order to collect aerial images, the Typhoon carries a CGO3 gimbal camera which is capable of high definition still and video photography (Yuneec). 

As you can see in Figure 1 below, the CGO3 is mounted underneath the frame of the Typhoon.  The placement of the camera underneath the frame of the UAV is optimal for aerial photography for several reasons.  First, it ensures that the images will not be impeded by the body of the UAV regardless of the angle or orientation in which the camera is pointing within its 115° Field of View (FOV).  This is important for the quality of the photos, but it is also important as it ensures the operator has a clear view with which to navigate the Typhoon.  In addition to being under the frame of the multi-copter, the camera is also mounted near the front end of the Typhoon.  It is significant that the camera is near the front of the frame again for navigational purposes so that the operator has a clear view of wherever the Typhoon is pointed.

 

A growing hobby area within the use of UAVs is First Person View (FPV) racing.  For you Star Wars buffs out there, FPV racing with a UAV is currently about as close as you can get to pod-racing.  As evidence of its growing popularity, there was a FPV Drone Nationals held in Sacramento, California last year (Kapper 2015).  To study the sensor placement for this UAV application, I will be looking at the Immersion RC Vortex 250 Pro.  The Vortex is a small quad-rotor UAV weighting only about 1 pound depending on the configuration (ImmersionRC Ltd 2016).  The Vortex uses a FatShark 700TVL camera for real-time video streaming to the racer (ImmersionRC Ltd 2016).  As shown in Figure 2, the Vortex’s camera is located within the “nose” of the UAV frame.  Unlike the Typhoon, whose main purpose is to look down, the main focus of the Vortex is what is ahead of the UAV.  The pilot needs to have a clear focus of the course in front of the Vortex, making the placement ideal. 

 

There a many important considerations to examine when designing a UAV for any application.  Sensor placement is one consideration that may go unnoticed, but as shown in the Typhoon and the Vortex, sensor placement is essential for the effective use of any UAV. 

References

ImmersionRC Ltd.  (2016). Vortex 250 Pro.  Retrieved from http://www.immersionrc.com/fpv-products/vortex-250-pro/

Kapper, C.  (2015). Five Essential Tips for Beginning Pilots.  PC World.  Retrieved from http://www.pcworld.com/article/2997557/consumer-electronics/first-person-view-drone-racing-five-essential-tips-for-beginning-pilots.html

Yuneec.  (2016). Typhoon Specifications.  Typhoon Q500.  Retrieved from http://www.yuneec.com/Typhoon-Specifications-Typhoon-4K