The
placement of sensors on an unmanned aerial system (UAS) is an extremely
important design aspect of the system.
The location of a camera in relation to the airframe will affect the
field of view (FOV) of the sensor. The
placement of the camera will also determine additional equipment requirements
to adjust the FOV, if necessary, during the platform’s mission. Depending on the placement and types of the
aircraft’s engines and the design of the UAS’ airframe, the camera may also
require buffer equipment to ensure vibrations during the platform’s operation
does not interfere with the imagery collected by the camera. These factors will be significant
considerations in the types of missions suitable for the UAS.
The
DJI Inspire-1 Model T600 quadcopter would be a suitable platform to conduct
aerial photography services. The
Inspire-1 can climb to over 14,000 feet but features a software limiter to keep
the aircraft below 400 feet to comply with current Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) regulations (FAA, 2015).
The UAS weighs only 6.5 pounds and measures only 17.25 inches by 17.75
inches by 12 inches in size. The
quadcopter can reach speeds of 50 mph and has an endurance of approximately 18
minutes of continuous flight. The
Inspire-1 can also withstand winds up to 22 mph. The imagery sensor mounted on the UAS is a 12.4
megapixel camera featuring a 94 degree FOV and capable of still image capture
and video recording. The camera is
mounted on a stabilized gimbal to ensure maximum range of view and stability of
image. The gimbal enables the camera to
pitch from -90 degrees to +30 degrees and can pan +/- 320 degrees. The imagery system supports common jpeg, dng,
mp4, and mov image and video formats.
Micro SD data cards of up to 64 GB are also supported. The Inspire-1 also features a control mode
that allows one operator to fly the aircraft and another operator to control
the camera system. The unique design of
the Inspire-1 features engines mounted on hinged arms that swing up and
down. The arms pivot to the down
position with the landing legs resting on the ground while the quadcopter
prepares for take-off and for landing.
Once airborne, the arms pivot up to provide the camera mounted
underneath the fuselage an unobstructed view (DJI, 2015). The video below demonstrates the ease and
utility of Inspire-1 operations.
Figure
1. The DJI Inspire-1 is reviewed and test flown
by “Mythbusters” co-host, Adam Savage.
The Blade FPV Nano QX
quadcopter is a suitable choice for first person view (FPV) UAS competitive
racing. The Nano QX weighs only 0.77
ounces and features excellent maneuverability and handling
characteristics. The Spektrum ultra
micro camera is mounted at the front of the quadcopter between two of the arms
supporting two of the motors. The
positioning of the camera and the angle of the arms of the airframe ensure an
unobstructed, wide FOV the operator. The
video below demonstrates the excellent visibility transmitted to the operator’s
Fat Shark Teleporter V4 headset (Horizon Hobby, n.d.).
A
wide range of platforms are available for aerial photography services and
competitive FPV UAS racing. The quality
of the imagery systems and the FOV afforded by the design of the aircraft are
extremely important aspects. These
characteristics will factor significantly in platform selection for the
respective roles. The DJI Inspire-1 and
Nano QX UAS are well suited for their respective, intended roles.
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