Needs Assessment
The customer’s first concern was to have a small, very light weight aerial vehicle. The next priority was to have a flapping wing vehicle with a hovering ability. The customer also said that the robot should be fitted with a camera and be able transmit video to the pilot so that it can be piloted out of the line of sight. If possible, the customer’s desire is to have an autonomous vehicle with image recognition abilities that will be able to be programmed to fly a certain path and return to the original position. The robot should be within the specifications of European Micro-Aero-Vehicle 2008 Competition and should be able to complete the indoor tasks specified if at all possible.
Project Scope
Problem Statement:
To build a Micro Aerial Vehicle (MAV) with constraints of maximum lateral dimension of 70 cm and maximum weight of 1 kg.
Justification/Background
European micro aerial vehicle conference, EMAV flight competition. MAV vehicle will be used for the indoor competition.
Existing Solutions:
-Delfly
-Robofly
Objective:
The project goal is to achieve a flapping wing micro aerial vehicle that flies and hovers, is capable of autonomous flight, and carry a camera to identify various objects in flight. Also, meet the requirements from the EMAV 2008 rules and regulations, and follow the indoor flight plan posted below.
4. Indoor Competition
a. Indoor Flight
Dynamics Competition
The indoor flight dynamics competition is open for all categories of MAV (fixed wing, rotary wing, flapping wing), and there will be a separate valuation for each category.
The MAV takes off close to two posts and flies around these two posts in an 8-shape
trajectory as often as possible for a duration of 3 minutes time. The height of the posts is 3 m and the distance between the posts amounts to 10 m.
Each fully completed figure eight results in 1 point for the mission score M.
Flying time and Number of flights
The allowed flying time is 3 minutes.
Each team will be given the chance to fly twice. The better score will be counted. The second flight time will be in the same sequence as in the first round.
b. Indoor Autonomy Competition
Like the indoor flight dynamics competition the indoor autonomy competition is open for all categories of MAV, but there will be no separate valuation. The main goal of this competition is to demonstrate the MAV’s capabilities of fulfilling a sophisticated mission including operation inside a small building with a covered ceiling. A video transmission from the MAV to a ground station is required for this mission. The mission starts at point no. 1 behind a 2.5 m high wall preventing the operator from seeing the MAV on the mission. Having overcome the wall, the MAV approaches the door (point no. 2). After entering the building, the MAV has to identify two targets (printed letters/numbers, point no. 3), one of them is placed on one of the building’s inner walls (vertical target), the other on is placed on the floor (horizontal target). The MAV leaves the building vertically through a chimney (point no. 4) and hovers for at least 10 seconds above the building before it lands on top of the roof (point no. 5). After another 10 seconds the MAV takes off and completes the mission by passing through the two posts (point no. 6) and landing at point no. 1. A fan will be placed directly at the approach of the two posts (point no. 6) simulating a cross wind of 5 m/s.
Methodology:
How the project will be tackled and it’s time frame.
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Testing |
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Expected Results:
To build a micro aerial vehicle that can complete the indoor flight plans for the EMAV 2008 course. Deliverables will include a fully designed project presentation with a full blueprint of the flapping wing device. A second deliverable will include a completely built aerial device with all requirements. The last deliverable will cover an overview of everything we have fulfilled and demonstrations of the capabilities of the MAV.
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Products of Project |
Risks |
Benefits |
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10 minute flight time |
Battery Life and weight of components. |
Longer flight time the more tasks can be achieved. |
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Fly at least 5 m high |
Failing from 5 m high would be destructive. |
Ability to hover over a building. |
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Fly at least a distance of 50 m |
Transmitter losing contact. |
Can achieve more tasks. |
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Display the 6-DOF in the air |
Losing control of the MAV and not being able to recover |
More maneuverability. |
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MAV within size specifications (lateral of 70 cm) |
Weaker components with smaller size. |
Can enter into smaller spaces. |
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Carry at least one camera and transmitter |
Cameras may be heavy and or costly. |
Ability to identify targets and receive more information. |
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Weight less than 1 kg |
Too light to stand up to any wind, also may not be strong enough (weak points) |
Easier to carry and requires less lift to get off the ground. |
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Operation by one person |
Inexperienced pilot may destroy MAV |
Ease of use, requires only one person to fly. |
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Hover for 10 seconds |
None |
Ability to take stationary footage |
Constraints:
The less than 70 cm size limit, bounds the scale of our MAV with the under 1 kg weight limit requires the project to consider the weight of every component from cameras to wing material. The budget of 1500 dollars is a major constraint that limits us for purchasing technologically advanced items that could be more lightweight that cheaper items. Lastly, time is another constraint that will be watched closely in order to complete the project.
http://www.dgon.de/content/pdf/emav_2008_Rules_v07.pdf.