Drones are garnering considerable interest for their capacity in autonomously transporting objects across diverse sectors. Their potential is poised to revolutionize the logistics realm by offering swifter, more cost-effective and efficient transportation solutions. This includes facilitating expedited delivery services for packages, transporting essential medical supplies, and enhancing the distribution of agricultural products. The idea of drones executing acrobatic maneuvers to throw objects is a novel concept that has received limited attention in literature. Certain studies have delved into the dynamics and control mechanisms of drones during acrobatic maneuvers. However, with current drone technology there is a slight safety risk to people and animals on the ground. There is a need for a system that allows optimal transport of sensor probes over or into environmental no-fly zones using acrobatic maneuvers with a quadrotor drone.
Researchers at Arizona State University, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Vanderbilt University, and Zandef Deksit Inc. have developed a system of quadrotor drone agility used to launch sensor probes precisely at desired target areas. The system provides optimal transport of sensor probes over or into environmental no-fly zones. This process utilizes an onboard vision system to identify an optimal deployment site, such as a patch of fire or a volcanic plume outlet. After identifying the optimal location, a blend of position and image-based visual servoing techniques directs the drone towards an optimal flight path for deploying the probe. Subsequently, trajectory optimization is conducted to enhance efficiency, utilizing offboard computing resources whenever possible to transmit waypoints and receive an improved flight trajectory profile.
Potential Applications:
- Agriculture (e.g., planting and seeding)
- Delivery services
- Medical services (e.g., delivering medical supplies to remote, dangerous, and inaccessible locations)
Benefits and Advantages:
- Probe can contain a lightweight camera such as GoPro MAX360, protected with an external cage
- Sensor probes carry out 3D altitude control during flight using six lightweight momentum wheels mounted on brushless motors
- Launches sensor probes precisely at desired target areas
- Eliminates need for spring-loaded or additional mechanisms, reducing mass and complexity in drone design