UAV Platform

Currently, the research team is working with an inventory of two small Ikarus helicopters (Eco 8, Eco 16) and one larger Bergen Industrial Twin.  The Bergen will serve as our main test and competition platform, while both the Ikarus models will be used for training and limited testing purposes.  At present, the Bergen is undergoing initial fittings for the sensor package, with the goal of being completely retrofitted and ready for the IARC competition in July. 

Primary Helicopter:

Chassis:    Bergen Industral Twin R/C

                  

                  

                    

                    

                  

                  

                               

 

Other Helicopters:

• More info coming soon!

                               

                                 

                              

                              

                              

                              

Progress to Date:
 
Last academic year, the team was able to make several significant strides forward.  The team focused on conducting a basic research background for the project.  This information provided the team with the necessary knowledge base to design the hardware and software components for an autonomous model helicopter.  The team then moved on to researching any and all summary papers available from current competition teams.  Reading through this material, the team was able to locate and isolate ideas, technologies, and problems common to many of the groups.   
 
Utilizing this base of research work as a jumping-off point, the team has been busy this academic year continuing to move forward with the project.  Working with some new equipment (including both a new computer for simulations as well as an indoor-capable micro-helicopter), all of the team members have been busy keeping up an expanding their knowledge of helicopter dynamics.  As well, the team has divided into sub-groups in order to break down the overall design into manageable sections.  A mechanical design group has been organized and is currently devising a solution for both a front-facing camera mount as well as a vibration-free sensor mount.  An electrical hardware sub-group is revising an initial design for the sensor package, and tackling issues including power consumption, heat reduction, and sensor interfacing.  In addition, a software sub-group is working on the basis for the system’s autonomous flight algorithms, and will then move on to other high-level software operations.

 
In short, at present the system is in its initial stage of design and realization.  Most of the software package is based on existing libraries and programs to allow for faster realization of the algorithms.  The sensor package and mechanical solutions, consisting of several pieces of technology proven successful with other teams, also incorporates newer technology that reflects the most successful ideas tested with other teams.  By basing our design on the lessons learned from other teams and stressing utilization of commercially available, off-the-shelf technology instead of complicating solutions with completely unique hardware and software packages, our team hopes to be able to avoid problems already encountered and move on to the obstacles yet to be tackled by other groups while reducing cost and streamlining our overall research process.”