Phoenix Team's 2015 Unmanned Autonomous System

• Published in: INCAS bulletin Vol. 7; no. 4; pp. 205 - 221
• Main Authors: Pana, Alexandru, Muresan, Alexandru Camil, Visoiu, Constantin, Andreescu, Theodora, Parvu, Petrisor, Zaharachescu, Iulian, Cherciu, Claudiu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bucharest INCAS - National Institute for Aerospace Research "Elie Carafoli" 11.12.2015; National Institute for Aerospace Research “Elie Carafoli” - INCAS
• Subjects: Autonomous; autonomous flight; Dynamical systems; Flight; image processing; Image transmission; Intelligence; Links; Modular; quad copter; Source code; target recognition and extraction
• ISSN: 2066-8201; 2247-4528
• DOI: 10.13111/2066-8201.2015.7.4.19

This paper provides a summary of the POLITEHNICA University's UAS, SkyEye, designed to meet the objectives of AUVSI student UAS competition. SkyEye is a custom built quad copter controlled by the pixhawk, an open-source autopilot. Capable of following dynamically changing waypoints, SkyEye provides real time reconnaissance to an Imagery terminal on ground using a gimbaled stabilized point and shoot camera. The transmission of captured images takes place on a 2.4GHz secured wireless link. The received images are then processed for actionable intelligence. Modular in design, SkyEye can be brought to flying state in less than 10 minutes. Safety being of paramount importance in all aspects of UAS operations, SkyEye can be controlled by a remote 2.4 GHz Radio transmitter, for manual control, or, over a 433 MHz radio link to a ground Control Station, as a Remotely Piloted Vehicle (RPV). This paper gives a detailed description of SkyEye's system.