This a gorgeous aircraft and the autonomous flight and image processing to detect "Outback Joe" is already working, as you'll see at 2:34.
Here's more about the Swiss Fang team:
This is the website of Team Swiss Fang, the swiss competition entry to the 2014 UAV Outback Challenge. We are developing a state-of-the-art autonomous, long range Search and Rescue UAV.Drones for Search and Rescue
We are with our partners part of the revolution in the skies, bringing unmanned airplanes into real applications. In the area of Search and Rescue drones can help saving lives. The Australian Outback Search and Rescue challenge is an ideal scenario to demonstrate the performance of our platform.
Technology
We have an unique approach, combining a very efficient flying wing airframe with the newest battery technology for maximum range. Our autopilot design performs fully automatic flight and landing. The fully automatic computer vision based lost person detection allows the plane to find lost hikers or other missing people on the ground.Impact
The autopilot developed by members of our team is available as open hardware and the first open hardware autopilot produced in series meeting the CASA safety regulations for the competition. We are not just creating a novel search and rescue plane, but bring the technology to a level where it can be immediately applied in real scenarios and at larger scales.Team
Our team consists of a number of the PX4 Autopilot Project core developers, allowing us to not just customize the autopilot for the competition task, but to actually design it for it.Swiss Made
Our team is based in the Zurich Area, called „the silicon valley of robotics“. We have strong ties to ETH Zurich, one of the world leading universities in aerial robotics.
Comments
They do offer white :) I took black only for the looks (promo reasons) and I think it does look great, but that's not important anymore.
I have the X8, maybe others have had chosen this path but I felt I'd get a lot further with the Viper. They are quite different.
Hi Simon,
Hadn't really thought about it in this application, but there is a reason almost all experimental home built aircraft made out of fiberglass are finished in white.
It seems like the manufacturer at least ought to offer a white vinyl option in place of the cool looking black imitation carbon fiber stuff.
Seems like the EPO Skywalker X8 might be a good choice as well and with a similar flight characteristic.
Best,
Gary
The detection system is quite an advanced one, developed by one of our team members, Julian Oes. The video shows a Joe like person with a bright vest but earlier that day we had lots of hits with my white T-Shirt. Black was harder but we'll get there. The system doesn't just look for a blob of colour but looks for a human form as well. We don't have regular access to Australian terrain here but we have done our homework and it's working for that kind of landscape too. We will be in Australia a week in advance to train the system further if necessary.
More information on the Viper can be found here: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2042139
The Viper is an amazing wing once setup right but can get out of hand fast. Initial tuning needed lots of space and strong nerves. After that it's a dream to fly, rock solid, no yawing and an impressive sound as it cruises past :)
Yes, it's a vinyl covering which is fine for show but horrible in the sun. I am probably going to strip it soon and use fibreglass matting with water based floor varnish. The wing is made of a kind of blue foam, so it's brittle but very stiff when covered, but is not meant to be bounced off the ground so I treat it like a real aircraft. We use EPO wings (Wing Wing and FX-61) for dev work and testing.
Simon
Great Job Seemed to lock on to Joe very quickly.
Nice plane, interesting vinyl covering I think:
http://greenairdesigns.com/ejc/index.php/special/viper-x-10-fpv-uav...
Are you happy with the Viper airframe?
Also any details about Joe location system you'd care to share?
Best Regards,
Gary
Less than 8 weeks to go!
Still plenty of testing for us to do...
The challenge here is to spot a lost Joe in nature. Image processing algorithms that can differentiate a non moving person, in the middle of bushes, is not yet available with normal cameras ( with IR or thermography it is easier). Here of course they tested the ideal easy case of a person lying in a flat mowed grass field wearing a fluo vest...