Italian Aerospace Research Centre

About: Italian Aerospace Research Centre is a other organization based out in Capua, Campania, Italy. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Aerodynamics & Morphing. The organization has 278 authors who have published 400 publications receiving 3563 citations. The organization is also known as: CIRA & Italian Aerospace Research Center.

A multiscale approach for discovery of illegal micro-dumps based on satellite detections

Abstract: <p>Satellite remote sensing allows for large scale monitoring with low cost and high revisit time. However, in some applications, it does not provide all the information needed by the analyst for the full characterization of the problem due to, as an example, insufficient resolution or lack of specific measurements. This can lead to inaccuracies in classification and/or detection tasks. Nevertheless, satellite data can be used to guide subsequent discovery, recognition and characterization actions, defining potential areas of interest of limited extension that can be furtherly investigated with on-site strategies. This work presents an innovative framework showing how to use incomplete and inaccurate information extracted by satellite images in order to address on-ground discovery actions aimed to the mapping and the characterization of illegal micro-dumps in Campania Region (Italy). In particular, high-resolution images up to 50 cm resolution are exploited to detect potential micro-dumps by means of a statistical learning method based on spatial features. The detection map is then used to create a priority map based on environmental risk considerations, such as the extension of the area interested by the dump and its proximity to urban settlements, and previous risk mitigation actions. This information is ingested by a planning system in order to allocate and calculate patrolling routes based on the available manpower and vehicles for on-site surveying. The survey is implemented by means of drones equipped with payloads and software allowing for real-time three-dimensional reconstruction of the scene and volumetric estimations. This provides further data to assess the real dangerousness of the site giving to decision makers essential information to plan remediation actions. The system is demonstrated through a case study showing all the stages of the decision process.</p>

Discovery and characterization of environmental hazards by means of dynamic coordination of drones driven by satellite detection maps

Abstract: <p>In some environmental applications, satellite acquisitions could not be able to provide all the information necessary to characterize the problem at hand due, for example, to limited spatial resolution or inadequate revisit time. However, in these cases, they can be used for preliminary investigation of the area of interest with the purpose to guide subsequent acquisitions with higher spatial resolution made by means of aerial sensing. This work presents an innovative application combining both satellite acquisitions and aerial close-range sensing implemented via drones in autonomous and coordinated flight. The case study concerns the discovery of illegal micro-dumps and other environmental hazards in Campania Region (Italy). The envisioned workflow includes the detection of target environmental criticalities in very high-resolution optical satellite images and a methodology to plan and adaptively re-plan a survey mission of a team of drones aimed at confirming the presence of a micro-dump and at its characterization. The processing of satellite images is validated on real data in a significative application context, while the performance of the acquisition strategy performed by the drone team are characterized trough simulations on a pre-analysed geographical area.</p>

Space-themed videogames : an effective way to promote space

Abstract: Purpose – The aim of this paper is to describe the potential of the videogame as a mass communication medium and to propose a videogame‐based public outreach strategy for education and inspiration to space science and space activities.Design/methodology/approach – The objective was achieved by means of a semiotic approach to the medium under discussion. The subject scope of the paper was further developed and supported by an overview of existing case studies related to the topic. Based on the aforementioned analysis and on original ideas, new concepts and strategies on the subject are proposed.Findings – The videogame medium has excellent potential for promotion, marketing and educational applications. Moreover, spin‐off applications in the field of simulation‐based research can also be envisioned. The proposed concepts, although specifically referring to the space sector, are applicable to many other industrial and non‐industrial fields, including libraries.Practical implications – The paper hints at man...

Concept of a Maneuvering Load Control System and Effect on the Fatigue Life Extension

Abstract: THIS PAPER PRESENTS A METHODOLOGY FOR THE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN OF A MANEUVER LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE AIRFRAME FLEXIBILITY. THE SYSTEM, WHEN SWITCHED ON, IS ABLE TO MINIMIZE THE BENDING MOMENT AUGMENTATION AT A WING STATION NEAR THE WING ROOT DURING AN UNSTEADY LONGITUDINAL MANEUVER. THE REDUCTION OF THE INCREMENTAL WING BENDING MOMENT DUE TO MANEUVERS CAN LEAD TO BENEFITS SUCH AS IMPROVED PAY-LOADS/GROSS WEIGHT CAPABILITIES AND/OR EXTENDED STRUCTURAL FATIGUE LIFE. THE MANEUVER IS PER-FORMED BY FOLLOWING A DESIRED VERTICAL LOAD FACTOR LAW WITH ELEVA-TORS DEFLECTIONS, STARTING FROM THE TRIM EQUILIBRIUM IN LEVEL FLIGHT. THE SYSTEM OBSERVES LOAD FACTOR AND STRUCTURAL BENDING THROUGH ACCELEROMETERS AND CALIBRATED STRAIN SENSORS AND THEN SENDS SIGNALS TO A COMPUTER THAT SYMMETRICALLY ACTUATES AILERONS FOR REDUCING THE STRUCTURAL BENDING AND ELEVATORS FOR COMPENSATING THE PERTUR-BATION TO THE LONGITUDINAL EQUILIBRIUM. THE MAJOR LIMIT OF THIS KIND OF SYSTEMS APPEARS WHEN IT HAS TO BE INSTALLED ON COMMERCIAL TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT FOR REDUCED OEW OR AUGMENTED WING ASPECT-RATIO. IN THIS CASE EXTENSIVE RAMS ANALYSES AND HIGH REDUNDANCY OF THE MLC RELATED SUB-SYSTEMS ARE REQUIRED BY THE CERTIFICATION AUTHORITY. OTHERWISE THE STRUCTURAL DESIGN MUST BE PERFORMED AT SYSTEM OFF. THUS THE UNIQUE ACTUAL BENEFIT TO BE GAINED FROM THE ADOPTION OF A MLC SYSTEM ON A COMMERCIAL TRANSPORT IS THE FA-TIGUE LIFE EXTENSION. AN APPLICATION TO A BUSINESS AIRCRAFT RESPOND-ING TO THE EASA CERTIFICATION SPECIFICATIONS, PART 25, HAS BEEN PERFORMED. THE AIRCRAFT USED FOR THE NUMERICAL APPLICATION IS CON-SIDERED ONLY AS A TEST CASE-STUDY. MOST OF DESIGN AND ANALYSIS CONSIDERATIONS ARE APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER AIRCRAFT, SUCH AS UN-MANNED OR MILITARY ONES, ALTHOUGH SOME DESIGN REQUIREMENTS CAN BE CLEARLY DIFFERENT. THE ESTIMATION OF THE FATIGUE LIFE EXTENSION OF A STRUCTURAL JOINT (WING LOWER SKIN-STRINGER), LOCATED CLOSE TO THE WING ROOT, HAS BEEN ESTIMATED BY SHOWING THE EXPECTED BENEFIT TO BE GAINED FROM THE ADOPTION OF SUCH A MANEUVERING LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM.

A sensor aided h.264/avc video encoder for aerial video sequences with in the loop metadata correction

Abstract: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are often employed to collect high resolution images in order to perform image mosaicking and/or 3D reconstruction. Images are usually stored on board and then processed with on-ground desktop software. In such a way the computational load, and hence the power consumption, is moved on ground, leaving on board only the task of storing data. Such an approach is important in the case of small multi-rotorcraft UAVs because of their low endurance due to the short battery life. Images can be stored on board with either still image or video data compression. Still image system are preferred when low frame rates are involved, because video coding systems are based on motion estimation and compensation algorithms which fail when the motion vectors are significantly long and when the overlapping between subsequent frames is very small. In this scenario, UAVs attitude and position metadata from the Inertial Navigation System (INS) can be employed to estimate global motion parameters without video analysis. A low complexity image analysis can be still performed in order to refine the motion field estimated using only the metadata. In this work, we propose to use this refinement step in order to improve the position and attitude estimation produced by the navigation system in order to maximize the encoder performance. Experiments are performed on both simulated and real world video sequences.