15-10-2010, 10:09 AM
Prepared by:
J.JAYASHANKAR
HEMANSHU BINNANI
[attachment=6103]
ABSTRACT
In the last decade researchers have developed increasingly sophisticated unmanned air vehicles (UAV) for military applications. Increased demands for intelligence are spawning the development of a smaller next-generation UAV called the micro air vehicle, or MAV. Small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, an MAV would have an operating range of several kilometers and transmit detailed pictures back to a portable base station. Potential applications for MAVs, both military and civilian, are numerous. For most military applications, MAVs would be controlled by local users, operating covertly, to supply real-time data. This article focuses on a military surveillance application that uses either visible or mid-wavelength infrared imaging sensors. As designed, the MAV would fly in a low Reynolds-number regime at airspeeds of 10 to 15 m/sec. Propulsion would be provided by a combination of an electric motor with either an advanced lithium battery or fuel cell, or by a miniature MEMS engine, which is a more efficient option. Because of the close coupling between vehicle elements, system integration would be a significant challenge, requiring tight packaging and multifunction components to meet mass limitations. Next, we see the robust schemes for the detection of extreme MAV attitudes, where no horizon is visible, and for the detection of horizon estimation errors, due to external factors such as video transmission noise.
J.JAYASHANKAR
HEMANSHU BINNANI
[attachment=6103]
ABSTRACT
In the last decade researchers have developed increasingly sophisticated unmanned air vehicles (UAV) for military applications. Increased demands for intelligence are spawning the development of a smaller next-generation UAV called the micro air vehicle, or MAV. Small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, an MAV would have an operating range of several kilometers and transmit detailed pictures back to a portable base station. Potential applications for MAVs, both military and civilian, are numerous. For most military applications, MAVs would be controlled by local users, operating covertly, to supply real-time data. This article focuses on a military surveillance application that uses either visible or mid-wavelength infrared imaging sensors. As designed, the MAV would fly in a low Reynolds-number regime at airspeeds of 10 to 15 m/sec. Propulsion would be provided by a combination of an electric motor with either an advanced lithium battery or fuel cell, or by a miniature MEMS engine, which is a more efficient option. Because of the close coupling between vehicle elements, system integration would be a significant challenge, requiring tight packaging and multifunction components to meet mass limitations. Next, we see the robust schemes for the detection of extreme MAV attitudes, where no horizon is visible, and for the detection of horizon estimation errors, due to external factors such as video transmission noise.
