The Laboratory of Unmanned aerial vehicles (Labdron) located in the Engineering School of Extremadura University (Badajoz, Spain) have started novel activities to introduce our engineering students in the UAV environment.
We have prepared courses to explain how to program UAVs and we have planned some seminars to introduce students in different technologies, such as UAV simulators, raspberry pi/arduino integration, UAV sensors, communication mechanisms and so on.
We have just finished several interesting projects:
The first one is focused on controlling one quadcopter (pixhawk) using a robotic glove. This device is integrated different types of sensors to detect finger movement, and also hand position and its acceleration. This glove has also a wireless connection to send mavlink commands to the quadcopter in order to move it as desired. You can see a demonstration presentation here1,
The second provides a system to control UAVs using only the voice. The project is also focused on quadcopters (pixhawk) although it can be used with any other type of UAVs. A smartphone receives the voice, then it identifies the specific command through artificial intelligent, next a corresponding mavlink command is generated, and finally, the package is send to the UAV. You can see a demonstration video here.
The third one tries to detect obstacles using ultrasonic sensors controlled by an arduino device. Sensors send an a specific sound which bounces in an object. When this sound is detected by the sensors, arduino device estimates de distance of objects. At this point, if there is any object in its vicinity, Arduino sends a command to stop or even to move in the opposite direction. You can see a demonstration video here.
I hope you enjoy this projects.
Jose Luis Herrero
Comments
Hi Jose!
Nice projects! In the third project did you use ArduCopter? If yes did you use a built in obstacle avoidance library or do you send offboard commands to the quad?
I hope you don't take this the wrong way but seeing so many of you inside the flying zone made me feel uncomfortable. You have at least 4 people there with no protection whatsoever on top of that it seems that the person holding the remote is definitely not in a position to take control when he is showing that he is not touching the sticks.
And I know that what you are flying seems to be a toy but all it takes is for one sensor to misfire, some condition in the code anywhere between the sensors and motors to execute and one of you could end up harmed. All it takes is for the blade to make contact with your eye.
Please have a think about safety protocols in your labs. You will win because you minimize the risk of harming anyone of you plus your demonstrators will look much more professional.
All the best to you and looking forward to some more results from your lab!
Congrats to my homecity university!! very happy to see that kind of research there! Jose Luis contact me if you want to talk.
Jesus