Unmanned Aircraft Systems and the Nordic Challenges
01 Jan 2022-pp 1-30
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors introduce the Nordic as well as generic challenges for UAV operations and discuss the needs for further research on the challenges affecting safe UAS operations, including weather-related phenomena challenges overlap in both technological and operational categories but can be mitigated differently.
Abstract: The European Union (EU) regulations regarding the unmanned aircraft system (UAS) that came into force in 2021 emphasise technological and operational safety. Those regulations have been developed on the common rules in the field of civil aviation and establishing a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The implementation of the regulations and compliant UAS operator activities are still the ground of the future. Therefore, it is essential to systematically gather information about all the factors affecting UAS operations in a safe and meaningful manner. This book chapter introduces the Nordic as well as generic challenges for UAS operations. The challenges can be divided into two main categories: technological and operational. Based on the extensive literature review and authors’ practical experience, both types of challenges are grouped by relevance topics. For example, the weather-related phenomena challenges overlap in both technological and operational categories but still can be mitigated differently. Technological challenges are usually mitigated by UAS design and human-computer interactions, while operational challenges may be mitigated with legislation and organisational activities and personal UAS operator qualities. Finally, the needs for further research on the challenges affecting safe UAS operations are discussed.
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21 Jun 2022
TL;DR: This work expanded the Hardware-based EMI Injection for Software Testing (HEIST) methodology to be able to monitor multiple signals simultaneously and recorded and detected continuous interference in the data signals as the UAV approached the power line.
Abstract: In the experiment for this paper we test a methodology for measuring interference in communication signals between a flight controller and peripheral devices of a UAV during a flight operation where the UAV is interacting with a 400 kV power line. Maintenance and inspection of power lines are vital for delivering energy supporting our modern society and it is an active research subject to explore autonomous systems as an alternative to the manual maintenance operations as these are both costly and dangerous. Supported by multiple research papers we believe that UAVs will be used for autonomous power line inspection in the future. Thus it is important to design them robust and tolerant of the electromagnetic harsh environment they are operating in and as traditional EMC measures such as heavy shielding and connectors counteract the UAVs payload capability and battery life, an EMC software solution can improve the robustness of the UAV. We have performed multiple experiments where the UAV is in contact with the 400 kV power line without any notable faults for the UAV operator. In this work, we expanded our Hardware-based EMI Injection for Software Testing (HEIST) methodology to be able to monitor multiple signals simultaneously, we recorded and detected continuous interference in the data signals as the UAV approached the power line. The interference can cause data corruption and needs to be handled safely e.g. by software, as these potentially cause the UAV to crash. The recorded data can with the HEIST approach be used to simulate the harsh environment in field tests by injecting the logic-level disturbances into the flight controller while the UAV is flying and thereby test if the system is fault-tolerant against the interference caused by the actual power line.
2 citations
TL;DR: In this article , the authors provide insights into a human factors-oriented concept of operations (ConOps), which can be applied for future semi-autonomous drone swarms to support the management of wildfires.
Abstract: This paper provides insights into a human factors-oriented Concept of Operations (ConOps), which can be applied for future semi-autonomous drone swarms to support the management of wildfires. The results provide, firstly, an overview of the current practices to manage wildfires in Finland. Secondly, some of the current challenges and future visions about drone usage in a wildfire situation are presented. Third, a description of the key elements of the developed future ConOps for operating a drone swarm to support the combat of wildfires is given. The ConOps has been formulated based on qualitative research, which included a literature review, seven subject matter expert interviews and a workshop with 40 professionals in the domain. Many elements of this ConOps may also be applied to a variety of other swarm robotics operations than only wildfire management. Finally, as the development of the ConOps is still in its first stage, several further avenues for research and development are proposed.
References
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TL;DR: This paper surveys the work done toward all of the outstanding issues, relating to this new class of networks, so as to spur further research in these areas.
Abstract: Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have enormous potential in the public and civil domains. These are particularly useful in applications, where human lives would otherwise be endangered. Multi-UAV systems can collaboratively complete missions more efficiently and economically as compared to single UAV systems. However, there are many issues to be resolved before effective use of UAVs can be made to provide stable and reliable context-specific networks. Much of the work carried out in the areas of mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs), and vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) does not address the unique characteristics of the UAV networks. UAV networks may vary from slow dynamic to dynamic and have intermittent links and fluid topology. While it is believed that ad hoc mesh network would be most suitable for UAV networks yet the architecture of multi-UAV networks has been an understudied area. Software defined networking (SDN) could facilitate flexible deployment and management of new services and help reduce cost, increase security and availability in networks. Routing demands of UAV networks go beyond the needs of MANETS and VANETS. Protocols are required that would adapt to high mobility, dynamic topology, intermittent links, power constraints, and changing link quality. UAVs may fail and the network may get partitioned making delay and disruption tolerance an important design consideration. Limited life of the node and dynamicity of the network lead to the requirement of seamless handovers, where researchers are looking at the work done in the areas of MANETs and VANETs, but the jury is still out. As energy supply on UAVs is limited, protocols in various layers should contribute toward greening of the network. This paper surveys the work done toward all of these outstanding issues, relating to this new class of networks, so as to spur further research in these areas.
1,636 citations
Book•
25 Jan 2008TL;DR: The goal of this review is to present a unified treatment of HRI-related problems, to identify key themes, and discuss challenge problems that are likely to shape the field in the near future.
Abstract: Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) has recently received considerable attention in the academic community, in labs, in technology companies, and through the media. Because of this attention, it is desirable to present a survey of HRI to serve as a tutorial to people outside the field and to promote discussion of a unified vision of HRI within the field. The goal of this review is to present a unified treatment of HRI-related problems, to identify key themes, and discuss challenge problems that are likely to shape the field in the near future. Although the review follows a survey structure, the goal of presenting a coherent "story" of HRI means that there are necessarily some well-written, intriguing, and influential papers that are not referenced. Instead of trying to survey every paper, we describe the HRI story from multiple perspectives with an eye toward identifying themes that cross applications. The survey attempts to include papers that represent a fair cross section of the universities, government efforts, industry labs, and countries that contribute to HRI, and a cross section of the disciplines that contribute to the field, such as human, factors, robotics, cognitive psychology, and design.
1,602 citations
TL;DR: The paper reports the state of the art of UAV for geomatics applications, giving an overview of different UAV platforms, applications, and case studies, showing also the latest developments of Uav image processing.
Abstract: Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platforms are nowadays a valuable source of data for inspection, surveillance, mapping, and 3D modeling issues. As UAVs can be considered as a low-cost alternative to the classical manned aerial photogrammetry, new applications in the short- and close-range domain are introduced. Rotary or fixed-wing UAVs, capable of performing the photogrammetric data acquisition with amateur or SLR digital cameras, can fly in manual, semiautomated, and autonomous modes. Following a typical photogrammetric workflow, 3D results like digital surface or terrain models, contours, textured 3D models, vector information, etc. can be produced, even on large areas. The paper reports the state of the art of UAV for geomatics applications, giving an overview of different UAV platforms, applications, and case studies, showing also the latest developments of UAV image processing. New perspectives are also addressed.
1,358 citations
Posted Content•
TL;DR: This tutorial provides key guidelines on how to analyze, optimize, and design UAV-based wireless communication systems on the basis of 3D deployment, performance analysis, channel modeling, and energy efficiency.
Abstract: The use of flying platforms such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), popularly known as drones, is rapidly growing. In particular, with their inherent attributes such as mobility, flexibility, and adaptive altitude, UAVs admit several key potential applications in wireless systems. On the one hand, UAVs can be used as aerial base stations to enhance coverage, capacity, reliability, and energy efficiency of wireless networks. On the other hand, UAVs can operate as flying mobile terminals within a cellular network. Such cellular-connected UAVs can enable several applications ranging from real-time video streaming to item delivery. In this paper, a comprehensive tutorial on the potential benefits and applications of UAVs in wireless communications is presented. Moreover, the important challenges and the fundamental tradeoffs in UAV-enabled wireless networks are thoroughly investigated. In particular, the key UAV challenges such as three-dimensional deployment, performance analysis, channel modeling, and energy efficiency are explored along with representative results. Then, open problems and potential research directions pertaining to UAV communications are introduced. Finally, various analytical frameworks and mathematical tools such as optimization theory, machine learning, stochastic geometry, transport theory, and game theory are described. The use of such tools for addressing unique UAV problems is also presented. In a nutshell, this tutorial provides key guidelines on how to analyze, optimize, and design UAV-based wireless communication systems.
1,071 citations
Book•
26 Aug 2021
TL;DR: The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is growing rapidly across many civil application domains, including real-time monitoring, providing wireless coverage, remote sensing, search and rescue, delivery of goods, security and surveillance, precision agriculture, and civil infrastructure inspection.
Abstract: The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is growing rapidly across many civil application domains, including real-time monitoring, providing wireless coverage, remote sensing, search and rescue, delivery of goods, security and surveillance, precision agriculture, and civil infrastructure inspection. Smart UAVs are the next big revolution in the UAV technology promising to provide new opportunities in different applications, especially in civil infrastructure in terms of reduced risks and lower cost. Civil infrastructure is expected to dominate more than $45 Billion market value of UAV usage. In this paper, we present UAV civil applications and their challenges. We also discuss the current research trends and provide future insights for potential UAV uses. Furthermore, we present the key challenges for UAV civil applications, including charging challenges, collision avoidance and swarming challenges, and networking and security-related challenges. Based on our review of the recent literature, we discuss open research challenges and draw high-level insights on how these challenges might be approached.
901 citations