Optimizing performance variables for small unmanned aerial vehicle co-axial rotor systems

The aim of this project was to design and build a test-rig that is capable of analyzing small unmanned aerial vehicles (SUAV) co-axial rotor systems. The intention of the test-rig development was to highlight important aeromechanical components and variables that dictate the co-axial units flight performance, with the intention of optimizing the propulsion systems for use on HALO® a co-axial SUAV designed by the Autonomous Systems Lab at Middlesex University. The major contributions of this paper are: an optimum COTS co-axial configuration with regards to motor and propeller variations, a thorough review and validation of co-axial rotor systems inter-rotor spacing which in turn identified an optimum H/D ratio region of between (0.41–0.65)

Development of a test-rig for exploring optimal conditions of small unmanned aerial vehicle co-axial rotor systems

Due to the recent increase in development and use of co-axial rotor system at the scale of small UAVs a greater understanding of the performance variables that affect the co-axial propulsion system at low Reynolds number operation has become increasingly apparent when optimizing such systems. This paper focuses on and details the development and fabrication of a small UAV co-axial rotor system test-rig, and investigations into the optimal inter-rotor spacing range between contra-rotating rotors. An integrated test-rig has been specifically designed for the testing and analysis of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) propellers and out-runner motors which are predominantly used in SUAV propulsion systems. The test-rig incorporates linear motion, yaw, force and other performance measurements, to help validate the identified core co-axial rotor system performance attributes. The co-axial test-rig was used to investigate co-axial rotor systems inter-rotor spacing which identified an optimum H/D ratio region of (0.41 – 0.65)

Development of a low-cost SLAM radar for applications in robotics.

The current state of SLAM radar is quite advanced, featuring various methods of data retrieval. One of the methods used is that of video telemetry to locate “common spots” in the surrounding environment which provide positional information during motion. Another method is that of using high-speed high-resolution laser measurement tools which provide a 360° horizontal field of view and a 90° vertical field of view. These systems create vast amounts of point cloud data and are expensive, ranging from £1,000 upwards. These systems are often unsuitable for small competition robots due to these reasons. The developments discussed in this paper describes various alternative measurement technologies, such as ultrasonic and infra-red and how these can be adapted with the addition of a mechanical drive to provide an almost real-time 360° horizontal field of view and an adjustable vertical field of view

Investigating the use of unmanned plant machinery on construction sites

The UK Construction Sector has been estimated to contribute 8% of the UK’s GDP [1]. The worldwide recession has forced construction companies to introduce and adopt cost saving measures to increase productivity. Several robotic building systems are in development for the Construction Sector such as the PERI’s Automatic Climbing System [2] and Brokk’s remote-controlled demolition machines [3], but there has been little implementation on live sites. Construction sites by their very nature are dynamically changing environments, so if human input was removed entirely, a robot would need a high level of awareness of the current state of the building project in order to navigate and carry out its tasks

Design and development of a pole climbing surveillance robot

The cost of installing, monitoring and servicing a fixed camera system can be high and not all areas are in need of constant surveying. The increase in crime in urban areas emphasizes the need for a more effective and efficient surveillance system, as a result could lead to fewer crimes. A temporary surveillance unit which is able to climb to gain an elevated view has great potential for both military and civilian application. This paper highlights how the patent pending climbing robotic system (PC-101) was developed to be used by London’s Metropolitan Police Forensic Department for analysing outdoor crime scenes especially that related to car accidents. When cars are involved in accidents in the Metropolitan area, depending on the scale of the incident, the road generally has to be shut off to traffic if there are serious casualties. Elevated images are required for cases which may be taken to court, which then the images are then used as evidence, therefore regulations on the quality and perspectives of the image have to be met. By climbing a range of existing street furniture such as street lamp post, a temporary platform eliminates the use of larger special vehicle which struggles to get to the crime scene as well as cuts down the duration of the road closure. 98% of London street lamps in the Metropolitan area are constructed out of steel structures which make the use of magnetic wheels for locomotion an ideal solution to the climbing problem. Once remote controlled to the top of the lamp post, the PC-101 makes use of its actuated camera arm/gimbal to take the required shot, which can be seen on the ground control unit. A surveillance tool of this sort can be used for many applications which include crowd/riot control, crime scene investigations, monitoring hostile environments and even the monitoring of nature within urban environments

Demonstration of the SQ-4 UAV at the DSEi exhibition 2011.

This year’s Defence & Security Equipment International (DSEi) exhibition, which played host to the world’s largest display of land, sea and air applications of defence and security products and technologies, has confirmed its attendance figure this year as 29,112, an increase of 16 percent on the previous edition in 2009. The exhibition featured 1,391 exhibiting companies representing 46 countries and included 30 national pavilions making this the largest DSEi ever

Future Tech: Tech that will change the world.

Pollyanna tests the latest transport, surveillance and security gadgets and discovers how they could change the world

Click explores defence technology, from vanishing tanks to airborne spy bots.

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Preliminary Performance Assessment of a Twin-rotor Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine Using Fast Aerodynamic Methods

The present work describes a simplified computational setup for the preliminary estimation of the power output of an overlapping twin-rotor horizontal axis wind turbine. A blade element theory based rotor code coupled to a lifting-line vortex-lattice downwash model is used for the prediction of the turbine behavior. The relation of power output versus rotor overlap of the twin-rotor configuration is compared to a single isolated rotor at identical operation conditions. An acceptable amount of rotor overlap in terms of power loss is found to allow for a close spacing. An analysis of the wake-induced velocity seeks to shed some light on the aerodynamic interaction