Wireless sensor network control Drones?

Hello to community!

It is a great fact that UAVs tend to miniaturization. Despite the high technology advances on microprocessors and embedded systems it is clear that only simple control laws can be implemented into Miniature Autonomous Vehicles. Note that i am not talking for rf manned control but for fully autonomous solutions. So what about Wireless Sensor Network control for Drones? It is an idea implemented widely in ground robots. The main approach is to implement on-board only the main control functions (for example stabilization with simple PID loops for safety mainly when the wirelless network is not availible for some reasons) and let advanced control laws send commands from the ground station. Obvioysly the drone will also send its state vector through the network. What's your opinion?

|------------------------|........................|-------------|
| Ground Station | <---- WSN ----> | DRONE |
|------------------------|........................|-------------|

You need to be a member of diydrones to add comments!

Join diydrones

Comments

Kostas Alexis May 11, 2010 at 12:45pm

So we can conclude that there is a meaning on this approach. Let's go a step ahead. What type of MAV do you think is the most appropriate? What type of rotorcraft? With what sensors and based on what MCU?
DrJeseuss May 11, 2010 at 10:48am

I like the concept of "distributed computing" but had another concept in mind at first read. How about a "control" UAV that does all the waypoints, etc. Then each additional UAV would communicate with it for direction. This way the "swarm" UAVs could use the free space onboard for other gadgets like atmospheric monitoring, distress signal triangulation, video monitoring, etc. Additionally, with the "control" UAV doing the the big-picture work, the others don't have to, making them more affordable.
Kostas Alexis May 11, 2010 at 8:45am

I agree with you Martin. This is almost what i have in mind but let me be a little more clear. Image UAVs of 50g or less. You can not put something with high power consuming parameters on such a small UAV! But yes you have to add sufficient controls for failures. To my point of view those are simple PD loops and some extra safety procedures (example a very small parachute!). But you can use Wireless Sensor Networks to guide those units using advanced control laws, to send navigation commands (waypoints), enforce cooperation among them etc. etc. It is an approach don't you think? You can also use the current infrastructure in areas like forests, borders etc.

This reply was deleted.