This is spring time and thus the ThermoPilot project is still under intensive development (now the v6.x version) and real tests flights can be conducted because the thermal upwards can be hunted above the fields... Below a sample log flight during a full autonomous thermal hunting in free mode.
Here a flight log during a 23 km of full autonomous cross country soaring mission in closed loops with 5 waypoints.
An ArduPilot Mega 2560 is installed on the Cularis e-Glider with the ThermoPilot v6.x firmware (an enhanced version of the ArduPlane v2.33). The ThermoPilot v6.0 includes a lot of improvements for the cross country soaring and the thermal hunting and some dedicated ML algorithms to do a close following of the thermal upwards.
Below the Cularis e-Glider and its big brother, the Fashionista: a 5 meters wingspan e-Glider (a very good thermal hunter)...
During the summer and the spring 2012, the ThermoPilot project will be very active in the air... Stay tuned...
Regards, Jean-Louis
Comments
Here a new feature of the ThermoPilot v6.3: this is the automatic pattern generation for the Thermal Hunting relative to a pointed area.
When the switch on CH7 is actuated, a flight plan is automatically generated by the software, the flight plan containts 10 waypoints. Each waypoint are set to the relative position (lat, lon, alt) of the glider when SW7 is actuated. The pattern (above) is automatically generated and the ThermoPilot begins the Thermal Hunting process following this flight plan like a cross country soaring mission. You need only to preset the half width in meters of the pattern with the mission planner (eher 300 meters).
Regards, Jean-Louis
Thanks Paul for your comments.
Hello John,
As you may notice in the flight log, there is a small forest in the field, during the test, there is a strong wind (25-30 Km/h) on the leading edge of the forest which create the Lift on the top middle of the forest like a slope... This why the glider is able to get potential energy in this area.
Below a photo of the forest taken from the runway with my Fashionista glider during its initial climb.
Impressive ! Congratulations !
As a hang glider pilot, I am really impressed. We have spent years talking about how to make thermal snoopers, especially for flat-land flying where the location of house thermals is not that obvious. With this technology you could map a reasonably-sized area for house thermals and ensure that you could up and away every time (avoiding the dreaded 'turkey' flight). Of course thermals are not continuous, but at least if the pilot knew the location he could then make a judgement as to the triggering cycle.
I'm also intrigued that you found lift over a forest, I've never managed to do that, except if it was on a slope and incorporated ridge lift.
Hello Roman,
I shall be in French Alp during spring (July/August) for conducting real tests flights of the ThermoPilot v6 in High Mountains... Below a video of the ThermoPilot in action done during the spring 2011...
Hello,
I started this kind of project with a paraglider drone, but yours is fantastic, is there a way to see it live?
I'm living in Grenoble France...
Jean-Louis, that's superb stuff! I love your work and wish you a great summer's testing! Do keep us posted with your progress!
Hello Stan, I have noticed that in major cases, a thermal upwards are created at the same place (without wind). So, during a day, if the weather conditions remains stable the thermal upwards are still located at the same location. Yes, my algorithm is able to find the core of the thermal. Look at some pictures below:
Hello Robert, This can be a good idea to save weight... I need also to use mean to refuel the Lipo..
The NASA Albatross UAV uses the dynamic soaring to reload battery with small generator on the wings (may be the reverse use of the motors).
Have you, or anybody, ever thought of the idea to have LiPo drop pods. Like an external fuel tank on an airplane. Use the external LiPo to get to altitude, and then switch over to an internal LiPo and drop the external one (with a parachute) over the Landing Zone for recovery.
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
-
5
of 5 Next