Friday, April 22, 2016

Introducing Laser Technology To Avoid Drone Collisions

Drones and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV's) is one of most emerging technology now a days. With the publicize of this technology ... thumbnail 1 summary


Drones and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV's) is one of most emerging technology now a days.

With the publicize of this technology the area of use have also been increased:

  • Aerial Photography
  • Field Analyze/ Land Survey
  • Real Estate
  • Surveillance
  • Agriculture
  • Entertainment
  • Product Delivery by Amazon
  • Post Delivery By Australian Post





However, an increase in drone traffic also means a higher risk of drone collisions, not only with other drones but also obstacles in the built environment.
Last week, a British Airways flight was struck by a drone as it came in to land at Heathrow Airport.

very real dangers of reckless, negligent and sometimes malicious use of drones
 said Chief Superintendent Martin Hendy of the Metropolitan Police Service’s Aviation Policing Command.


Hovermap

Dr Stefan Hrabar from the CSIRO specializes in research on DRONES and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and is currently part of a team that is developing algorithms that will keep them safe and free from collisions through a device known as Hovermap.
The new technology involves a rotating laser that is used to give a full spherical view around a UAV while it is moving.
Twice a second it builds up a local map, like a safety bubble, 
Dr. Hrabar told The Huffington Post Australia.
The map in real time is taking a local snapshot as the laser rotates and generates what the greatest threat is in that local area. This can be used to keep a UAV safe, it will push back if a pilot gets too close to an obstacle.


Peter Gibson, corporate communication manager of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) believes that the technology will be a game changer.
Drones, or remotely piloted aircrafts, are now their own sector [within the aviation industry] and it’s a sector that is growing rapidly,
 he told HuffPost Australia.
Anti-collision technology will be one of the real steps forward, once available. For commercial drones, you will have the possibility of being able to operate them in built up areas for parcel delivery.
Current technology just doesn’t allow that because they don’t have the ability to sense what is around them and avoid it.
Dr. Hrabar said that the collision avoidance sensor will have great potential in the use of UAVs in the commercial sector.
We are doing something that is unique in the world with the laser mapping.