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Article
Publication date: 1 December 2003

231

Abstract

Details

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, vol. 75 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0002-2667

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 July 2007

Christine Connolly

To examine the sensors and techniques used in preventing the collision of moving vehicles.

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Abstract

Purpose

To examine the sensors and techniques used in preventing the collision of moving vehicles.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of automobile‐guidance research projects carried out in European universities and advanced safety vehicle development by Japanese car manufacturers is followed by a description of driver assistance systems in current use. A new research initiative for autonomous unmanned aircraft is then discussed.

Findings

Fully‐autonomous prototype vehicles have demonstrated impressive feats on public roads, but car manufacturers are currently concentrating on driver assistance systems. Research is underway to extend the use of unmanned aircraft into the civil field, and to allow them to share airspace with piloted planes.

Originality/value

Presents current policies in automotive and aerospace development, and describes the range of sensor technologies applied to collision avoidance.

Details

Sensor Review, vol. 27 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0260-2288

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 16 January 2017

Richard Bloss

The purpose of this paper is to review some of the latest in new vision sensor technologies as well as other innovative sensor products being developed and reaching the market.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review some of the latest in new vision sensor technologies as well as other innovative sensor products being developed and reaching the market.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is a review of published information and papers on research as well as contact and discussions with researchers and suppliers in this field at the Vision Show and the Ceramics Show.

Findings

Microelectronics and electrochemical technologies have been a major factor in technology advancements of sensors for a wide range of applications. Vision sensors have become very important, as applications such as drone aircraft and driver less cars have dramatically grown. Technology has advanced and so sensors are becoming smarter, are smaller, offer better resolution, are much more sensitive than in the past and address previously unserved applications.

Originality/value

Readers may be very excited to learn of the many advances in vision and other technologies which are coming to the sensor field. Such sensors are addressing new applications that were not previously possible which are now being served.

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 1 July 2021

Xiaochun Guan, Sheng Lou, Han Li and Tinglong Tang

Deployment of deep neural networks on embedded devices is becoming increasingly popular because it can reduce latency and energy consumption for data communication. This paper…

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Abstract

Purpose

Deployment of deep neural networks on embedded devices is becoming increasingly popular because it can reduce latency and energy consumption for data communication. This paper aims to give out a method for deployment the deep neural networks on a quad-rotor aircraft for further expanding its application scope.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, a design scheme is proposed to implement the flight mission of the quad-rotor aircraft based on multi-sensor fusion. It integrates attitude acquisition module, global positioning system position acquisition module, optical flow sensor, ultrasonic sensor and Bluetooth communication module, etc. A 32-bit microcontroller is adopted as the main controller for the quad-rotor aircraft. To make the quad-rotor aircraft be more intelligent, the study also proposes a method to deploy the pre-trained deep neural networks model on the microcontroller based on the software packages of the RT-Thread internet of things operating system.

Findings

This design provides a simple and efficient design scheme to further integrate artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm for the control system design of quad-rotor aircraft.

Originality/value

This method provides an application example and a design reference for the implementation of AI algorithms on unmanned aerial vehicle or terminal robots.

Details

Industrial Robot: the international journal of robotics research and application, vol. 48 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-991X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 October 2015

Roberto Sabatini, Francesco Cappello, Subramanian Ramasamy, Alessandro Gardi and Reece Clothier

The purpose of this paper is to design a compact, light and relatively inexpensive navigation and guidance system capable of providing the required navigation performance (RNP) in…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to design a compact, light and relatively inexpensive navigation and guidance system capable of providing the required navigation performance (RNP) in all phases of flight of small unmanned aircrafts (UA), with a special focus on precision approach and landing.

Design/methodology/approach

Two multi-sensor architectures for navigation and guidance of small UA are proposed and compared in this paper. These architectures are based, respectively, on a standard extended Kalman filter (EKF) approach and a more advanced unscented Kalman filter (UKF) approach for data fusion of global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS)-based inertial measurement unit (IMU) and vision-based navigation (VBN) sensors.

Findings

The EKF-based VBN-IMU-GNSS-aircraft dynamics model (ADM) (VIGA) system and the UKF-based system (VIGA+) performances are compared in a small UA integration scheme (i.e. AEROSONDE UA platform) exploring a representative cross-section of this UA operational flight envelope, including high-dynamics manoeuvres and CAT-I to CAT-III precision approach tasks. The comparison shows that the position and attitude accuracy of the proposed VIGA and VIGA+ systems are compatible with the RNP specified in the various UA flight profiles, including precision approach down to CAT-II.

Originality/value

The novelty aspect is the augmentation by ADM in both architectures to compensate for the MEMS-IMU sensor shortcomings in high-dynamics attitude determination tasks. Additionally, the ADM measurements are pre-filtered by an UKF with the purpose of increasing the ADM attitude solution stability time in the UKF-based system.

Details

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology: An International Journal, vol. 87 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0002-2667

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 14 June 2013

Richard Bloss

The paper aims to provide a review of how innovations in laser, acoustics, radar, magnetic and other sensor technologies are aiding in making unmanned vehicles more autonomous.

Abstract

Purpose

The paper aims to provide a review of how innovations in laser, acoustics, radar, magnetic and other sensor technologies are aiding in making unmanned vehicles more autonomous.

Design/methodology/approach

In‐depth interviews are carried out with exhibitors of sensors at the AUVSI exhibition.

Findings

Innovations in infrared, laser, acoustics, magnetic and other sensor technologies are helping unmanned vehicles better meet the challenge of an ever‐increasing range of applications in military, law enforcement, and commercial applications as well as agriculture, fishing and rescue operations.

Practical implications

These sensor innovations will help make robot applications of all types more autonomous, easier to create and more cost effective in unmanned as well as manufacturing, logistics, medical and other applications.

Originality/value

The paper provides an insight into some of the latest in laser, radar, acoustic, magnetic, accelerometer, vision and gyro sensors and how they are helping address robotic applications that one might have seen if they had been on the exhibition floor at the Las Vegas unmanned vehicle show (AUVSI) in 2012.

Details

Sensor Review, vol. 33 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0260-2288

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 April 2020

Paweł Rzucidło, Tomasz Rogalski, Grzegorz Jaromi, Damian Kordos, Piotr Szczerba and Andrzej Paw

The purpose of this paper is to describe simulation research carried out for the needs of multi-sensor anti-collision system for light aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles.

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe simulation research carried out for the needs of multi-sensor anti-collision system for light aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents an analysis related to the practical possibilities of detecting intruders in the air space with the use of optoelectronic sensors. The theoretical part determines the influence of the angle of view, distance from the intruder and the resolution of the camera on the ability to detect objects with different linear dimensions. It has been assumed that the detection will be effective for objects represented by at least four pixels (arranged in a line) on the sensor matrix. In the main part devoted to simulation studies, the theoretical data was compared to the obtained intruders’ images. The verified simulation environment was then applied to the image processing algorithms developed for the anti-collision system.

Findings

A simulation environment was obtained enabling reliable tests of the anti-collision system using optoelectronic sensors.

Practical implications

The integration of unmanned aircraft operations in civil airspace is a serious problem on a global scale. Equipping aircraft with autonomous anti-collision systems can help solve key problems. The use of simulation techniques in the process of testing anti-collision systems allows the implementation of test scenarios that may be burdened with too much risk in real flights.

Social implications

This paper aims for possible improvement of safety in light-sport aviation.

Originality/value

This paper conducts verification of classic flight simulator software suitability for carrying out anti-collision systems tests and development of a flight simulator platform dedicated to such tests.

Details

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, vol. 92 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1748-8842

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 11 October 2018

Pavel Zikmund, Miroslav Macík, Petr Dvořák and Zdeněk Míkovec

This paper aims to present a state-of-the-art review in various fields of interest, leading to a new concept of bio-inspired control of small aircraft. The main goal is to improve…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to present a state-of-the-art review in various fields of interest, leading to a new concept of bio-inspired control of small aircraft. The main goal is to improve controllability and safety in flying at low speeds.

Design/methodology/approach

The review part of the paper gives an overview of artificial and natural flow sensors and haptic feedback actuators and applications. This background leads to a discussion part where the topics are synthesized and the trend in control of small aircraft is estimated.

Findings

The gap in recent aircraft control is identified in the pilot–aircraft interaction. A pilot’s sensory load is discussed and several recommendations for improved control system architecture are laid out in the paper.

Practical implications

The paper points out an opportunity for a following research of suggested bio-inspired aircraft control. The control is based on the artificial feeling of aerodynamic forces acting on a wing by means of haptic feedback.

Originality/value

The paper merges two research fields – aircraft control and human–machine interaction. This combination reveals new possibilities of aircraft control.

Details

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, vol. 90 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1748-8842

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 May 1994

Terry Ford

Various systems for enhancing visibility for civil aircraft have been proposed and a recent Royal Aeronautical society conference chaired by Captain Harry Hopkins sought to…

Abstract

Various systems for enhancing visibility for civil aircraft have been proposed and a recent Royal Aeronautical society conference chaired by Captain Harry Hopkins sought to address many of these and provide a background against which their certification can be considered. The first contribution dealt with a NASA view of these systems and described the technical baselines for a programme to provide enhanced visual systems for three conditions. These are:

Details

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, vol. 66 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0002-2667

Article
Publication date: 19 October 2018

Mariusz Oszust, Tomasz Kapuscinski, Dawid Warchol, Marian Wysocki, Tomasz Rogalski, Jacek Pieniazek, Grzegorz Henryk Kopecki, Piotr Ciecinski and Pawel Rzucidlo

This paper aims to present a vision-based method for determination of the position of a fixed-wing aircraft that is approaching a runway.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to present a vision-based method for determination of the position of a fixed-wing aircraft that is approaching a runway.

Design methodology/approach

The method determines the location of an aircraft based on positions of precision approach path indicator lights and approach light system with sequenced flashing lights in the image captured by an on-board camera.

Findings

As the relation of the lighting systems to the touchdown area on the considered runway is known in advance, the detected lights, seen as glowing lines or highlighted areas, in the image can be mapped onto the real-world coordinates and then used to estimate the position of the aircraft. Furthermore, the colours of lights are detected and can be used as auxiliary information.

Practical implications

The presented method can be considered as a potential source of flight data for autonomous approach and for augmentation of manual approach.

Originality/value

In this paper, a feasibility study of this concept is presented and primarily validated.

Details

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, vol. 90 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1748-8842

Keywords

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