scholarly journals Cooperative Unmanned Aerial System Reconnaissance in a Complex Urban Environment and Uneven Terrain

Sensors ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (17) ◽  
pp. 3754 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petr Stodola ◽  
Jan Drozd ◽  
Jan Mazal ◽  
Jan Hodický ◽  
Dalibor Procházka
Keyword(s):  
Robotic Systems ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Military Operations ◽  
Complex Environment ◽  
Uneven Terrain ◽  
The Past ◽  
Area Of Interest ◽  
Minimum Number ◽  
New Formulation ◽  
Aerial Systems

Using unmanned robotic systems in military operations such as reconnaissance or surveillance, as well as in many civil applications, is common practice. In this article, the problem of monitoring the specified area of interest by a fleet of unmanned aerial systems is examined. The monitoring is planned via the Cooperative Aerial Model, which deploys a number of waypoints in the area; these waypoints are visited successively by unmanned systems. The original model proposed in the past assumed that the area to be explored is perfectly flat. A new formulation of this model is introduced in this article so that the model can be used in a complex environment with uneven terrain and/or with many obstacles, which may occlude some parts of the area of interest. The optimization algorithm based on the simulated annealing principles is proposed for positioning of waypoints to cover as large an area as possible. A set of scenarios has been designed to verify and evaluate the proposed approach. The key experiments are aimed at finding the minimum number of waypoints needed to explore at least the minimum requested portion of the area. Furthermore, the results are compared to the algorithm based on the lawnmower pattern.

Complex Battlespaces

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
International Human Rights Law ◽  
Humanitarian Law ◽  
Military Operations ◽  
Modern Warfare ◽  
Aerial Systems

The conduct of warfare is constantly shaped by forces beyond the battlefield. These forces create complexities in the battlespace for military operations. The ever-changing nature of how and where wars are fought creates challenges for the application of the unchanging body of international law that regulates armed conflicts. The term “complex” is often used to describe modern warfare, but what makes modern warfare complex? Is it the increasingly urbanized battlefield where wars are fought, which is cluttered with civilians and civilian objects? Is it the rise of State-like organized armed groups that leverage the governance vacuum created by failed or failing States? Is it the introduction of new technologies to military operations like autonomous weapons, cyber capabilities, and unmanned aerial systems? Or is it the application of multiple legal regimes to a single conflict? Collectively, these questions formed the basis for the Complex Battlespaces Workshop in which legal scholars and experts from the field of practice came together to discuss these complexities. During the workshop, there was a general consensus that the existing law was sufficient to regulate modern warfare. The challenge, however, arises in application of the law to new technologies, military operations in urban environments, and other issues related to applying international human rights law and international humanitarian law to non-international armed conflicts. This inaugural volume of the Lieber Book Series seeks to address many of the complexities that arise during the application of international law to modern warfare.

Public Safety Implementation of Unmanned Aerial Systems for Photogrammetric Mapping of Crash Scenes

2019 ◽  
Vol 2673 (7) ◽  
pp. 567-574 ◽  
Author(s):  
John L. Bullock ◽  
Robert Hainje ◽  
Ayman Habib ◽  
Deborah Horton ◽  
Darcy M. Bullock
Keyword(s):  
Public Safety ◽  
Mean Squared Error ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Mass Casualty ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Paper Briefly ◽  
The Past ◽  
Squared Error ◽  
Aerial Systems ◽  
Terrestrial Photogrammetry

Terrestrial photogrammetry using acquired images by a hand-held camera has been used for several years to map crash scene geometry. More recently, photogrammetric reconstruction from acquired images by an unmanned aerial system (UAS) has been proposed for crash scene mapping. Over the past year, the Tippecanoe County Sherriff’s Office has participated in three workshops with Purdue University, applied these skills in two training mass casualty exercises, and independently mapped five crash scenes in June and July 2018. This paper briefly reviews the training sessions, mass casualty exercises, and five crash scenes mapped by Tippecanoe County Sherriff’s deputies. The paper presents a comparison of both traditional ground-based and UAS-based photogrammetric mapping for two crashes in July 2018. The UAS procedures described in this paper are quite similar to current ground-based photogrammetric mapping. The UAS-based photogrammetric mapping derived measurements from eight identified crash scene markers and key features were found to be within 0.29 ft of field tape measurements, or with 0.4% or less relative error and a root mean squared error of 0.12 ft. We believe this paper will become important documentation in the literature that will provide public safety agencies with performance data to support their deliberation in investing in this new technology.

Unmanned aerial system applications in construction: a systematic review

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 453-468 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shi Zhou ◽  
Masoud Gheisari
Keyword(s):  
Progress Monitoring ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Past ◽  
Building Maintenance ◽  
Current State ◽  
Aerial Systems ◽  
Rotary Wing ◽  
Uas Applications

PurposeOver the past decade, researchers have used unmanned aerial systems (UASs) in construction industry for various applications from site inspection to safety monitoring or building maintenance. This paper aims to assort academic studies on construction UAS applications, summarize logics behind using UAS in each application and extend understanding of current state of UAS research in the construction setting.Design/methodology/approachThis research follows a systematic literature assessment methodology to summarize the results of 54 research papers over the past ten years and outlines the research trends for applying UASs in construction.FindingsUASs are used in building inspection, damage assessment, site surveying, safety inspection, progress monitoring, building maintenance and other construction applications. Cost saving, time efficiency and improved accessibility are the primary reasons for choosing UAS in construction applications. Rotary-wing UASs are the most common types of UASs being used in construction. Cameras, LiDAR and Kinect are the most common onboard sensors integrated in construction UAS applications. The control styles used are manual, semi-autonomous and autonomous.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to classification of UAS applications in construction research and identification of UAS hardware and sensor types as well as their flying control systems in construction literature.

The civil use of small unmanned aerial systems (sUASs): operational and safety challenges

2017 ◽  
Vol 89 (5) ◽  
pp. 703-708 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Novaro Mascarello ◽  
Fulvia Quagliotti
Keyword(s):  
Medical Equipment ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Unmanned Vehicles ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Past ◽  
Military Applications ◽  
International Regulations ◽  
Emergency Scenarios ◽  
Aerial Systems

Purpose In the past decades, both civil and military applications of small unmanned aerial systems (sUASs) have been on the rise. The sUASs guarantee the performance of dangerous, dull, duly and dirty missions, according to the 4D rule. The purpose of this study is to describe, some ethical, operational and safety challenges occur owing to the use of sUASs at over-crowded areas or in emergency scenarios. After an overview of the current sUAS regulations, some strategic configuration elements will be analysed to improve these systems and to define safe and inoffensive sUASs. Nevertheless, some problems have not been completely overcome. Design/methodology/approach The unmanned vehicles are nowadays applied for different kinds of applications. Search and rescue (S&R) missions; terrain surveillance and monitoring after natural disasters, such as earthquakes and landslides; and transportation of medical equipment and cartography are some examples of the most renowned and important civil missions of sUAS. In all these scenarios, some challenges could be encountered. First, the use of sUASs could compromise the privacy of unaware citizens who are in the area of application. Moreover, even if the unmanned vehicle works according to national and international regulations, there are some hazards both for the ground operators and for the population, because these sUASs could impact the human body after a flight failure. Findings In this paper, current principal regulations will be analysed, identifying some differences and discrepancies among them. Moreover, some considerations about the configuration elements are introduced to define the safe use of sUASs. Nevertheless, the privacy challenge is quite complicated to be overcome definitely. Originality/value Considering some challenges related to the civil applications of sUASs, new unmanned configurations could be developed to guarantee safety and data protection of unaware people.

Improvement in the model of cooperative aerial reconnaissance used in the tactical decision support system

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 483-492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petr Stodola
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Decision Support System ◽  
Support System ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Area Of Interest ◽  
Aerial Reconnaissance ◽  
Tactical Decision ◽  
High Level ◽  
Aerial Systems ◽  
The Impact

This paper deals with the model of cooperative aerial reconnaissance. The goal of this high-level model is to explore the area of interest by a fleet of unmanned aerial systems optimally, which is (mostly) as fast as possible. The model has been implemented into the tactical decision support system to support commanders of the army of the Czech Republic in their decision making. The current paper does not present the model itself, but it enhances the original model by inserting a new parameter which is called angle delay coefficient. In the first part of the paper, the impact of the new parameter on the task of aerial reconnaissance is discussed. A series of experiments were proposed and conducted to verify the influence of the coefficient. The second part of the paper further improves the model by smoothing the routes of individual aerial systems; a new set of parameters are introduced.

scholarly journals ’Looking Through a Soda Straw’: Mediated Vision in Remote Warfare

Politik ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Moritz Queisner
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Situational Awareness ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Military Operations ◽  
Sensory Data ◽  
Action And Perception ◽  
Image Production ◽  
Functional Shift ◽  
Human Actors ◽  
Aerial Systems

Image-guided military operations embed soldiers into a complex system of image production, transmission, and perception. These soldiers separate their bodies from the battlefield, but they also mediate between them. In particular, remote controlled operations of so-called unmanned aerial systems (UAS) require the synchronization between human actors and technical sensors in real-time, such as the knowledge of a situation. This situational awareness relies almost exclusively on the visualization of sensory data. This human-machine entanglement corresponds to a new operative modality of images which differs from previous forms of real-time imaging such as live broadcasting, as it is based on a feedback-loop that turns the observer into an actor. Images are not simply analyzed and interpreted but become agents in a socio- technological assemblage. The paper will draw upon this functional shift of images from a medium of visualization towards a medium that guides operative processes. Based on the analysis of vision, architecture, and navigation in remote warfare, it will discuss how real-time video technology and the mobilization of sensor and transmission technology produce a type of intervention, in which action and perception is increasingly organized and determined by machines. 

A Review of US Army Unmanned Aerial Systems Accidents

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-28
Author(s):  
Kathryn A. Feltman ◽  
Ian P. Curry ◽  
Amanda M. Kelley
Keyword(s):  
Human Error ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Objective Data ◽  
Military Operations ◽  
Us Army ◽  
Flight Operations ◽  
Aircraft Type ◽  
Aerial Systems

Abstract. Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) are increasingly used in military operations. Successful operations, despite no human onboard, are heavily human-dependent. A review of Army UAS accidents was completed to evaluate the role of the human in these accidents so as to inform future research and operations. Reports of 288 accidents occurring between 2010 and 2015 were obtained. Report elements including aircraft type, accident findings, and personnel information were reviewed. About 76% of accidents were not due to human error, specifically based on contributions of air and ground crew in flight operations. No clear conclusions were identified to aid in determining the contribution of the human to the accident. Recommendations for more rigorous investigations, to include capturing objective data of personnel, are put forth.

scholarly journals Applications of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS): A Delphi Study Projecting Future UAS Missions and Relevant Challenges

Drones ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Sigala ◽  
Brent Langhals
Keyword(s):  
Delphi Method ◽  
Delphi Study ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Subject Matter Experts ◽  
Military Operations ◽  
Data Link ◽  
Sense And Avoid ◽  
Aerial Systems ◽  
Acquisition Professionals

Over recent decades, the world has experienced a growing demand for and reliance upon unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to perform a broad spectrum of applications to include military operations such as surveillance/reconnaissance and strike/attack. As UAS technology matures and capabilities expand, especially with respect to increased autonomy, acquisition professionals and operational decision makers must determine how best to incorporate advanced capabilities into existing and emerging mission areas. This research seeks to predict which autonomous UAS capabilities are most likely to emerge over the next 20 years as well as the key challenges for implementation for each capability. Employing the Delphi method and relying on subject matter experts from operations, acquisitions and academia, future autonomous UAS mission areas and the corresponding level of autonomy are forecasted. The study finds consensus for a broad range of increased UAS capabilities with ever increasing levels of autonomy, but found the most promising areas for research and development to include intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) mission areas and sense and avoid and data link technologies.

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