Unmanned Aerial Systems Sensor Placement

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Worldwide

(UNSY 605) – Unmanned Systems Sensing, Perception, and Processing

 

 

UAS Sensor Placement

Summary

            The DJI Phantom 3 Professional seems to be the industry leader in providing cost effective aerial photography services below 400 feet Above Ground Level.  The closest competitor in many of the reviews I’ve read is the Parrot Drone, but the Phantom wins out on camera stability.

Discussion

            The DJI Phantom 3 incorporates an easy to use controller, and out-of-the box software system that makes it an easy to use tool for several industries including Real Estate, video journalism, and research just to name a few.  It is the exceptional aerial imaging capability that makes the DJI Phantom stand out from the competition though.  For most users, the 4K video is more than enough at 30 frames per second (dji.com).  For still images the DJI Phantom provides a 12-megapixel capability.  What makes this exceptional is the stability with which it is able to capture the video and images, made possible by the 3-axis gimbal.  The DJI provides an ideal solution for professionals in need of aerial imagery.

            For the more casual enthusiast that has been bitten by the drone bug, few hobbies can be more exciting than flying, and while flying a small plane may not be possible, nothing can be closer than flying a drone using a first-person-view (FPV) headset.  The Quanum Nova provides this capability to a quadcopter giving the user the perception as though they were in the cockpit. This places the user somewhere between real flying, and virtual reality since there is a real aircraft involved.  The sport is becoming increasingly more popular with Freestyle competitions and other racing events across the country.  As the sport grows, so too is the number of organizations, clubs, and magazines focused on drone and small unmanned systems (sUAS) (Kapper, C., 2015).

            What I find most appealing is the fact that both professionals and hobbyists are accepting the responsibility that goes along with these systems.  The FAA recently passes regulations making it a requirement that the owners of sUAS register their machines (FAA.gov).  Even before that requirement was passed, there were organizations encouraging the safe operation of drones; KnowBeforeYouFly.org.  It’s refreshing to see a new product be so widely accepted and responsibly used for its intended purpose.

Conclusion

            It is remarkable to note the progress seen in the use of sUAS.  Both professionals have embraced the use of these systems for aerial photography, and hobbyists alike.  As research in sensor capabilities continue to evolve, these systems will most assuredly find new uses and become even more prevalent in our every day lives.

 

References

DJI Phantom 3 Professional, (n.d.), dji.com.  Retrieved 4/10/16:  http://www.dji.com/product/phantom-3-pro/camera#sub-feature

FAA.gov.

Kapper, C, (10/27/15), PCWorld.  Retrieved 4/10/16:  http://www.pcworld.com/article/2997557/consumer-electronics/first-person-view-drone-racing-five-essential-tips-for-beginning-pilots.html