Researchers at Zhejiang University in China have developed a navigation system for drones that enables them to perform precise maneuvers in flight autonomously both indoors and outdoors.
Researchers at Zhejiang University in China have developed a navigation system for drones that enables them to perform precise maneuvers in flight autonomously both indoors and outdoors.
To give the drone greater autonomy, the researchers developed a system that defines flight as a series of aerobatic intentions. Each intention can be a change in attitude — the position of the device in three-dimensional space relative to the horizon — in response to the surrounding topology, allowing for precise and complex flight maneuvers, writes Tech Xplore.
The system also includes a trajectory planner to make it as smooth as possible and avoid collisions with stationary objects. The researchers also added software to eliminate yaw sensitivity, which will help solve the rotation problem.
In practice, the system uses preloaded maps, an in-flight computer, and visual processing that converts topological metrics into air movements, allowing for continuous adjustments to the flight path depending on conditions.
The researchers tested their system on both simulators and real drones and found that it can be used to safely fly drones both indoors and outdoors. They also found that it can be used to autonomously perform aerobatic maneuvers and safely navigate obstacle courses.
