scholarly journals Evaluating the Use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) to Perform Low-Slope Roof Inspections

10.29007/jknh ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dr. Dhaval Gajjar ◽  
Dr. Joseph Burgett
Keyword(s):  
3D Model ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft Systems ◽  
Inspection Time ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Traditional Practices ◽  
Aircraft Systems ◽  
Federal Highway ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Aerial Systems

The use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) or Drones are being explored for a wide range of civilian applications. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recently reported that “construction inspectors that use UAS are reducing inspection time, improving effectiveness, increasing safety, and lowering costs.” If the FHWA is enjoying these benefits by leveraging this technology, it stands to reason that other industries that perform similar functions would also benefit. This study explores the opportunity of using commercially available UAS and structure-from-motion software to replace an in-person inspection for a low slope roof. The goal of the study was to see how much of a traditional in-person roof inspection could be replaced with a 3D photogrammetric model created from drone imagery. In this experiment, a SME roofing inspector identified deficiencies exclusively from a 3D model. Then, the SME inspected the low-slope roof in-person using traditional practices. The SME identified 191 specific deficiencies using 3D model and 200 deficiencies from the traditional method. The defects easiest to identify were open laps, alligatoring, punctures, wrinkles on the roof membrane and damages around the edges whereas total number and square feet of blisters, damages around penetration were the most difficult to identify in the model.

scholarly journals PARADIGM OF RESISTANCE TO INTELLIGENCE AND IMPACT UNLIMITED AIRCRAFT COMPLEXES

2020 ◽  
pp. 73-90
Author(s):  
D. A. Ishchenco ◽  
V. A. Kyryliuk ◽  
S. D. Ishchenco ◽  
L. M. Maryshchuk
Keyword(s):  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Subject Area ◽  
Unmanned Vehicles ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft Systems ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Military Equipment ◽  
Aircraft Systems ◽  
Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Aerial Systems

The work shows the relevance of the problem of countering reconnaissance and strike unmanned aircraft systems and the need to improve the scientific and methodological support of its solution according to a certain corresponding paradigm. In the work as a paradigm of countering unmanned aerial systems, it is proposed to consider a conceptual theoretical and methodological model of combating unmanned aerial vehicles, which currently provides opportunities for identifying the problems of developing forces and means of countering unmanned aerial systems. The developed paradigm of counteraction can be an element of scientific and methodological support, contributes to the solution of the problem of the complex use of forces and means of counteraction to reconnaissance and strike unmanned aircraft systems in order to acquire the capabilities of troops (forces) to perform tasks as intended in the conditions of the use of unmanned vehicles. The recognition of such a paradigm by specialists determines that their activities are based on the accepted model of countering unmanned aircraft systems, using the same rules and standards established in the industry. The generality and consistency of approaches that they provide are prerequisites for ensuring the required scientific level of a certain direction of research. The proposed approach outlines the tasks, content, components, principles of assessment of means of counteraction to unmanned aerial vehicles by contributing to the effectiveness of the system of protection of the object from reconnaissance and strike (shock) systems of the enemy, which systematizes knowledge in the subject area. problems of modern armed struggle. The prospect of further research is to clarify the mathematical calculations in accordance with the characteristics of troops (forces), military facility, protection system against reconnaissance and strike (strike) unmanned aerial vehicles of the enemy and samples of military equipment that are part of it.

scholarly journals Atmospheric Measurements with Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)

Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1208
Author(s):  
Marcelo I. Guzman
Keyword(s):  
Unmanned Aircraft ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft Systems ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Atmospheric Measurements ◽  
Aircraft Systems ◽  
Aerial Systems

This Special Issue provides the first literature collection focused on the development and implementation of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and their integration with sensors for atmospheric measurements on Earth [...]

Integrating Unmanned Aircraft Systems into State Department of Transportation Highway Bridge Inspection Procedures: Challenges, Implications, and Lessons Learned

2021 ◽  
pp. 036119812110444
Author(s):  
Michael Plotnikov ◽  
John Collura
Keyword(s):  
State Department ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft Systems ◽  
Highway Bridge ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
Bridge Inspection ◽  
Aircraft Systems ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Bridge Inspections

Rapid proliferation of small, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) promises to revolutionize traditional methods used to carry out civil engineering surveys and analyses and conduct physical infrastructure inspections. One of the most promising areas of implementation of innovative UAS technology includes the integration of UAS into current state Department of Transportation (DOT) bridge inspections. While regular bridge inspections are paramount for road user safety, many traditional inspection methods and procedures are cumbersome, expensive, and time consuming; present significant hazards to both the traveling public and the inspection personnel; and are disruptive to normal operations of the transportation facilities. The results of recent studies indicate that UAS can serve as a useful tool in many highway bridge inspection procedures, while significantly reducing costs and time and improving safety. The major factors that affect the success of integrating UAS into the bridge inspection process relate to selection of the proper types of UAS platforms and avionics, data collection sensors and processing software, as well as conduct of task-specific pilot training. The paper provides an examination of current standard bridge inspection procedures and protocols currently carried out by state DOTs; an evaluation of state DOT experiences with the integration of UAS technology into bridge inspections; and an assessment of the issues and challenges associated with this technology. It is expected that this paper will be of interest to a wide range of stakeholders representing state and federal governments, academia, and industry.

ANALYSIS OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS APPLICATION IN THE CIVIL FIELD

Transport ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 335-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Volodymyr Kharchenko ◽  
Dmitry Prusov
Keyword(s):  
Unmanned Aircraft ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft Systems ◽  
Task Orientation ◽  
Aircraft Systems ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Air Space ◽  
The Common ◽  
Subsequent Integration

The basic directions of unmanned aircraft systems applications in the civil field has been reviewed, the concepts of creation and organization of civil unmanned aircraft systems has been considered depending on the task orientation as well as the wide range of issues concerning the use of existing capacity for the design, manufacture and operation, with subsequent integration into the common air space.

scholarly journals Unmanned Aircraft Systems Performance in a Climate-Controlled Laboratory

2021 ◽  
Vol 102 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matteo Scanavino ◽  
Arrigo Avi ◽  
Andrea Vilardi ◽  
Giorgio Guglieri
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Deep Understanding ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft Systems ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
System Modelling ◽  
Aircraft Systems ◽  
Wide Range

AbstractDespite many research studies focus on strategies to improve autopilot capabilities and bring artificial intelligence onboard Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), there are still few experimental activities related to these vehicle performance under unconventional weather conditions. Air temperature and altitudes directly affect thrust and power coefficients of small scale propeller for UAS applications. Reynolds numbers are usually within the range 10,000 to 100,000 and important aerodynamic effects, such as the laminar separation bubbles, occur with a negative impact on propulsion performance. The development of autonomous UAS platforms to reduce pilot work-load and allow Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations requires experimental data to validate capabilities of these innovative vehicles. High quality data are needed for a deep understanding of limitations and opportunities of UAS under unconventional flight conditions. The primary objective of this article is to present the characterization of a propeller and a quadrotor capabilities in a pressure-climate-controlled chamber. Mechanical and electrical data are measured with a dedicated test setup over a wide range of temperatures and altitudes. Test results are presented in terms of thrust and power coefficient trends. The experimental data shows low Reynolds numbers are responsible for degraded thrust performance. Moreover, details on brushless motor capabilities are also discussed considering different temperature and pressure conditions. The experimental data collected in the test campaign will be leveraged to improve UAS design, propulsion system modelling as well as to provide guidelines for safe UAS operations in extreme environments.

scholarly journals PHOTOGRAMMETRIC ASSESSMENT AND COMPARISON OF DJI PHANTOM 4 PRO AND PHANTOM 4 RTK SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS

2019 ◽  
Vol XLII-2/W13 ◽  
pp. 503-509 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. V. Peppa ◽  
J. Hall ◽  
J. Goodyear ◽  
J. P. Mills
Keyword(s):  
Data Acquisition ◽  
Accuracy Assessment ◽  
Bundle Adjustment ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft Systems ◽  
Aircraft Systems ◽  
Ground Control Points ◽  
Reference Information ◽  
Sensing Technology ◽  
Wide Range

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> Consumer-grade Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), and particularly Small Unmanned Aircraft (SUA) weighing less than 20&amp;thinsp;kg, have recently become very attractive for photogrammetric data acquisition across a wide range of applications. Compared to other more expensive remote-sensing technology, DJI Phantom series SUA provide a trade-off between cost, sensor quality, functionality and portability. Because of the significant interest in such systems, rigorous accuracy assessment of metric performance is crucial. This research investigates the capabilities of the Phantom 4 Pro (P4P) and the recently launched Phantom 4 RTK (P4RTK) SUA through both laboratory and in-situ assessments with multi-scale photogrammetric blocks. The study adopts self-calibrating bundle adjustments from conventional photogrammetry and from a Structure-from-Motion (SfM)-photogrammetric approach. Both systems deliver planimetric and vertical absolute accuracies of better than one and two pixels ground sampling distance, respectively, against independent check points. This can be achieved if the imaging network configuration includes a mixed range of nadir and oblique imagery and several ground control points are established as reference information. Ongoing analysis is investigating the strength of all bundle adjustment solutions. It is also evaluating the GNSS capabilities of the P4RTK SUA after post-processing raw observations of its trajectory. Findings from a comprehensive accuracy assessment can support non-experts in designing the pre-flight photogrammetric data acquisition plan and aid understanding of the performance of such popular off-the-shelf SUA.</p>

scholarly journals Monitoring of Forest Hauling Roads Wearing Course Damage using Unmanned Aerial Systems

2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (5) ◽  
pp. 1537-1546 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petr Hrůza ◽  
Tomáš Mikita ◽  
Přemysl Janata
Keyword(s):  
Cross Sections ◽  
3D Model ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft ◽  
Road Surface ◽  
Aerial Photographs ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Forest Roads ◽  
Forest Road ◽  
The Cross ◽  
Aerial Systems

Currently, a large part of the forest roads that were built using the bituminous surface technology in the second half of the last century have been worn out. This means that forest owners and forest managers urgently need to determine the amount and extent of this damage and establish a suitable repair plan, which demands both time and staff. The aim of the study is to verify whether it is possible, and with what precision, to detect the damage of the wearing course by means of unmanned aerial systems, which would facilitate and accelerate this process and possibly make it cheaper. A 3D model of a forest road was created using photos of the current state of a damaged part of a forest road. The aerial photographs were taken by an unmanned aircraft. To verify the accuracy of the model, cross sections of the road surface were surveyed tachymetrically and compared with the cross sections created in the 3D model in ArcMap, from photogrammetric pointcloud using aerial photographs from the unmanned aircraft. The RMSE of the values of the control points in the 3D model cross sections compared to the values of the points in the tachymetric measurement of the cross sections reached to within 0.0198 m. The results of the tested road section showed that the unmanned aerial systems can be used to detect the forest road surface damage with the difference in accuracy being up to 2 cm compared with the accuracy of the current tachymetric methods. Based on the results we can conclude that the used method is appropriate for detailed monitoring of the condition of the asphalt wearing course of forest roads and allows for a precise and objective localization and quantification of damage.

RESEARCH OF SCIENTIFIC DATA IN THE FIELD OF UNMANNED AVIATION SYSTEMS BASED ON PUBLICATION ACTIVITY IN THE RUSSIAN SCIENTIFIC CITATION INDEX

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (26) ◽  
pp. 21-25
Author(s):  
D. D. Zverev ◽  
◽  
A. S. Kostin ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Citation Index ◽  
Scientific Data ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft Systems ◽  
Publication Activity ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Russian Science ◽  
Russian Scientific ◽  
Russian Science Citation Index ◽  
Aerial Systems

The article presents an analysis of publication activity in the field of unmanned aircraft systems based on the Russian Science Citation Index. This area is one of the growth points of FutureSkills competencies, therefore, the study of scientometric parameters is extremely relevant. The main publication centers, universities and institutes and scientific articles that have the highest citations and citations were obtained as the research objectives. The paper presents a retrospective analysis of the intensity of publication and presents the authors and titles of articles with the highest citations. Additionally, the main areas of application of quadcopters are considered. Key words: aeronet, unmanned aerial systems, quadrocopters, analysis of publications, research centers.

scholarly journals A Framework for Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System Regulation in New Zealand

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew V. Shelley
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft Systems ◽  
Civil Aviation ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Legal Sanctions ◽  
Risky Behaviours ◽  
Aircraft System ◽  
Aerial Systems ◽  
Regulatory Controls

The malicious or negligent use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) – usually referred to as ‘drones’ – gives rise to significant risks. While the risky behaviours are subject to existing legal sanctions, the apprehension of perpetrators can be difficult, and traditional regulatory controls, such as licensing drone operators, may be ineffective. ‘Counter-UAS’ (C-UAS) systems that defend against unmanned aerial systems are emerging internationally as a way to address the latent threat. Potential legal issues with the implementation of C-UAS in New Zealand are briefly surveyed. I propose the adoption of a licensing system for C-UAS similar to that already adopted in civil aviation regulation.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document