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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Gundummy on December 29, 2015, 11:23:18 AM

Title: Sense and Avoid
Post by: Gundummy on December 29, 2015, 11:23:18 AM
Maybe one step closer by putting ADS-B receivers into platforms:

(http://www.unmannedsystemstechnology.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Draganfly-drone-safety-software.jpg)

Full article http://www.unmannedsystemstechnology.com/2015/12/uavionix-and-draganfly-innovations-announce-new-sense-and-avoid-drone-safety-system/ (http://www.unmannedsystemstechnology.com/2015/12/uavionix-and-draganfly-innovations-announce-new-sense-and-avoid-drone-safety-system/)

ADS-B for those unaware or for geekologists: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_dependent_surveillance_%E2%80%93_broadcast (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_dependent_surveillance_%E2%80%93_broadcast)

Just to add - Google are trying to produce an affordable ADS-B system for multi/wing.  (less than $2000) :)
Title: Re: Sense and Avoid
Post by: FPVSteve on December 29, 2015, 12:18:57 PM
I have never encountered another aircraft while flying, let alone a "drone" I wasn't aware was being operated nearby.

Does this even need to be a thing?
Title: Sense and Avoid
Post by: elmattbo on December 29, 2015, 01:01:58 PM
That's kind of the point I think Steve.


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Title: Re: Sense and Avoid
Post by: Gundummy on December 29, 2015, 01:12:42 PM
QuoteI have never encountered another aircraft while flying, let alone a "drone" I wasn't aware was being operated nearby.

Does this even need to be a thing?

I think this was spawned off the back of having "delivery drones" from parcel companies.  One of the issues clearly was sense and avoid in cluttered airspace.  Hence google jumping on the back of it as a developer. 

If it was introduced - I'd hazard a guess that it would change the way in which we fly as a hobby, a real game changer making LOS, spotters etc a non entity.

Thoughts?
Title: Re: Sense and Avoid
Post by: mark1975 on December 29, 2015, 01:24:03 PM
instant millionaire  overnite ^^^^^^
Title: Sense and Avoid
Post by: Lola on December 29, 2015, 01:56:06 PM
Quote from: Gundummy on December 29, 2015, 01:12:42 PM
I think this was spawned off the back of having "delivery drones" from parcel companies.  One of the issues clearly was sense and avoid in cluttered airspace.  Hence google jumping on the back of it as a developer. 

If it was introduced - I'd hazard a guess that it would change the way in which we fly as a hobby, a real game changer making LOS, spotters etc a non entity.

Thoughts?

A couple of systems have already been tested with positive results. A company I know in Switzerland has a very good working one but it weighs 900 grams.

It's all well developing such a system and having one that works and at affordable prices which will technically pave the way for us to FPV where we want in safety.

So where's the hook?

Well, they won't be affordable to us for a start, then they will only be given to those who NEED one for commercial use (registration required) and if you get caught with a clone you're going to get hung.

I do hope I'm wrong.
Title: Re: Sense and Avoid
Post by: FPVSteve on December 29, 2015, 02:26:02 PM
Wouldn't it depend on every aircraft having the system onboard though? And wouldn't that requirement render the whole thing useless if someone decided to fly without it?  It's not radar based is it, it's GPS. So how can you detect something that isn't broadcasting its position?

Disclaimer: I'm not ully up to speed with how it works, the above is based on assumption.
Title: Re: Sense and Avoid
Post by: Gundummy on December 29, 2015, 02:51:03 PM
US Aviation law has stated that every US aircraft has to have one fitted by 2020....Hence why the rush to make them affordable.

Sagetech have a full system with GPS weighing in at <150gr ... but yes it is a commercial system. (Fitted to commercial UAVs) which probably explains why the Military kit gets around the spotter/LOS rules.
Title: Re: Sense and Avoid
Post by: skyscraper on December 29, 2015, 03:08:58 PM
There is a beta version of ADS-B in ArduPilot codebase.

http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/apm-support-for-ads-b-air-traffic-control-receiver-now-in-beta (http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/apm-support-for-ads-b-air-traffic-control-receiver-now-in-beta)

regards
Andy
Title: Re: Sense and Avoid
Post by: Gundummy on December 29, 2015, 03:12:31 PM
Well Bu*ger me!

Nice one Andy

Only 6 Grams!  http://www.uavionix.com/ (http://www.uavionix.com/)
Title: Re: Sense and Avoid
Post by: Gundummy on December 29, 2015, 03:44:11 PM
and if it tickles your fancy ... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-RTL-ADS-B-Receiver-Set-MCX-to-SMA-Cable-Included-Feed-Flightradar24-/111852944029?hash=item1a0af47a9d:g:UqEAAOSwPYZU20O1 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-RTL-ADS-B-Receiver-Set-MCX-to-SMA-Cable-Included-Feed-Flightradar24-/111852944029?hash=item1a0af47a9d:g:UqEAAOSwPYZU20O1)

Not that planes are my thing!
Title: Re: Sense and Avoid
Post by: wgt40w on December 29, 2015, 06:42:54 PM
Quote from: Gundummy on December 29, 2015, 03:44:11 PM
and if it tickles your fancy ... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-RTL-ADS-B-Receiver-Set-MCX-to-SMA-Cable-Included-Feed-Flightradar24-/111852944029?hash=item1a0af47a9d:g:UqEAAOSwPYZU20O1 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-RTL-ADS-B-Receiver-Set-MCX-to-SMA-Cable-Included-Feed-Flightradar24-/111852944029?hash=item1a0af47a9d:g:UqEAAOSwPYZU20O1)

Not that planes are my thing!

This receiver will give you the 'sense', but does anything yet take this info and issue an automatic 'avoid' ?? Do even the military have such a full system for drones ??
Title: Re: Sense and Avoid
Post by: Gundummy on December 29, 2015, 07:09:46 PM
Theres an app called flightradar24 (free version) if you're that curious just for a peak (IOS and android) with regards to that dongle.
It simply shows what is in "your" airspace.

I dont think theres anything out there which can avoid "automatically" so to speak, just alert the user/pilot to whats in his area.

I have no experience of aviation or tech i hasten to add so i'm not the expert on this.  Hopefully there's aviation SME in the forum!!

Title: Re: Sense and Avoid
Post by: skyscraper on December 29, 2015, 07:24:33 PM
Quote from: wgt40w on December 29, 2015, 06:42:54 PM
This receiver will give you the 'sense', but does anything yet take this info and issue an automatic 'avoid' ?? Do even the military have such a full system for drones ??

The Ardupilot version currently gives 3 options on what to do
  - do nothing ( Presumably issue a warning)
  - loiter ( ie circle in same place)
  - loiter and descend.

https://github.com/diydrones/ardupilot/blob/master/libraries/AP_ADSB/AP_ADSB.h#L37

I think it will soon get more sophisticated. It is (apparently) possible to load an Ardupilot session (SITL)   in  a flight sim such as Flightgear where you can try it all out. One day I will have to try to get that set up !

regads
Andy


 
Title: Re: Sense and Avoid
Post by: Gundummy on December 29, 2015, 07:28:00 PM
I'm sure he works for the CIA  :yeahthat:
Title: Sense and Avoid
Post by: yellowjacket on December 29, 2015, 07:37:17 PM
Problem with ADSB is that most of the aircraft that conflict is an issue with arent't required to have it.
I've often wondered if a version of the FLARM used by gliders wouldnt be the best solution.
Title: Re: Sense and Avoid
Post by: Liam B. on December 29, 2015, 07:49:14 PM
Quote from: yellowjacket on December 29, 2015, 07:37:17 PM
Problem with ADSB is that most of the aircraft that conflict is an issue with arent't required to have it.
I've often wondered if a version of the FLARM used by gliders wouldnt be the best solution.

Most newish (last 5 years) or older top end FLARM units will also give warnings for ADSB traffic too. It probably wouldn't be too hard to incorporate into these systems!
Title: Re: Sense and Avoid
Post by: skyscraper on January 05, 2016, 07:45:33 PM
Interesting in relation to sense and avoid

The data is being collected from the lidar on top of the car.


regards
Andy

Title: Re: Sense and Avoid
Post by: electrotor on January 06, 2016, 07:30:44 PM
Not ABS-B but relevant to the thread is Yuneec's Typhoon H, to be on sale soon. The Yuneec website doesn't have any info yet so details from elswhere are sketchy.

http://www.engadget.com/2016/01/05/yuneec-typhoon-h-drone-intel-realsense/ (http://www.engadget.com/2016/01/05/yuneec-typhoon-h-drone-intel-realsense/)
Title: Re: Sense and Avoid
Post by: skyscraper on January 09, 2016, 05:26:24 PM
More lidar based sense and avoid tech

http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/under-the-hood-of-the-sf40-smart-sense-and-avoid-lidar (http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/under-the-hood-of-the-sf40-smart-sense-and-avoid-lidar)

regards
Andy
Title: Sense and Avoid
Post by: stevec on January 10, 2016, 12:51:02 AM
Bae had a stand at the commercial uav show and they have a solution that uses 5 cameras to do real time sense and avoid on larger uav's it's only a matter of time now.
The big restriction on bvlos flights is the lack of sense and avoid so once these are working we will see a huge change in their applications. It could save my firm around 200k a year if we could use autonomous uav's instead of helicopters so this is definitely a thing.

/Steve


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Title: Re: Sense and Avoid
Post by: Gundummy on January 10, 2016, 09:50:06 AM
BAE.... I bet it looked good but like all things BAE related..   It just doesn't work  :rofl:
Title: Re: Sense and Avoid
Post by: skyscraper on January 10, 2016, 10:40:32 AM
3D solid state lidar ( saw somewhere it was around $250 )

http://www.quanergy.com/products/ (http://www.quanergy.com/products/)

EDIT: More info here: ( This looks seriously cool!)
http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/quanergy-announces-250-solid-state-lidar-for-cars-robots-and-more?xg_source=activity (http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/quanergy-announces-250-solid-state-lidar-for-cars-robots-and-more?xg_source=activity)

EDIT. What is really interesting about this is that the technology could theoretically be used to make a directional antenna  that moves in 3d, effectively a solid state antenna tracker!  :)

regards
Andy
Title: Sense and Avoid
Post by: Brucey on January 10, 2016, 11:36:34 AM
Now that is cool. I want an osd with a lidar overlay to spot those pesky powerlines and small branches
Title: Re: Sense and Avoid
Post by: skyscraper on January 11, 2016, 07:22:56 PM
Quote from: Brucey on January 10, 2016, 11:36:34 AM
Now that is cool. I want an osd with a lidar overlay to spot those pesky powerlines and small branches

Ah well you need one of these...

http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/new-volta-companion-computer-for-pixhawk-brings-computer-vision-m (http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/new-volta-companion-computer-for-pixhawk-brings-computer-vision-m)

Not quite sure what it does but it does it very fast  :laugh:

Seriously. Apparently it can work with OpenCV (http://docs.opencv.org/master/examples.html) which is a software library that can be used to find patterns and features in images for computer vision.

Also apparently the Volta connects drone to 4G Mobile network so you get unlimited range.. Yeah.. That is more interesting isnt it  :laugh:

regards
Andy



Title: Re: Sense and Avoid
Post by: Gundummy on January 11, 2016, 07:30:24 PM
on a serious note..... wtf is that?  :o
Title: Re: Sense and Avoid
Post by: skyscraper on January 11, 2016, 07:49:10 PM
Quote from: Gundummy on January 11, 2016, 07:30:24 PM
on a serious note..... wtf is that?  :o

Its a bit beyond me tbh... but its a cheaper version of this ( warning hour long vid. Put link in code section else it does weird stuff)
http://livestream.com/nvidia/events/4599293
Also see here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_learning
Hopefully all cleared up now  :dazed:   :rtfm:

regards
Andy
Title: Re: Sense and Avoid
Post by: Gundummy on January 11, 2016, 07:55:32 PM
i think my brain just leaked out of my ear....

ok, it doesn't make toast.... thats all i needed to know :D