Aerial Observation Platform

							Aerial Observation Platform

           Jacob Cecil
    EKU - Dept. of Technology
              CEN
OUTLINE
   Motivation – Previous interest in both aviation and unusual photography, and
    random searching on eBay.
   Problem Statement – Short range battery operated aerial vehicle capable of
    transmitting live video onto the internet using off-the-shelf technology.
   Solution – Build an electrically powered model airplane, a wireless camera and
    my miniDV camcorder as either storage for broadcast later, or as a real time
    analog to digital converter for live broadcast onto the internet.
   Drawbacks – How is my project limited/how could it be improved.
   Similar systems – The U.S. Marine Corps has built and are testing a device
    similar in concept to mine but much more advanced.




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   MOTIVATION
Have an interest in aviation/flight.
Within a short time span, I found both the small wireless camera and the
plane kit on eBay. The airplane happened to be a model of the real plane
I jump from on the weekends, a de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver.




                                                                            3
   MOTIVATION
I put a plan together to build this plane, originally having a different
project in mind for EET499. I was going to build the flying camera just for
the fun of it.


I have worked with streaming video before, and thought it would be an
exciting prospect to stream live video from the air onto the internet,
where it would be visible from anywhere with only a small delay.




I also thought it would add a very useful dimension to the airplane if it
were able to lift, then drop small objects.
                                                                              4
PROBLEM STATEMENT
   The need for aerial surveillance over
    small areas with the ability to distribute
    live video from a small craft anywhere
    in the world, also being able to deliver
    small payloads to remote areas
    inaccessible by other means.


                                                 5
PROPOSED SOLUTION
   This project was really more of a solution looking for a problem, as I
    was not seeking to solve a specific problem when I set out to build it.
   I built it mainly to see if it could be done, a knowledge for the sake of
    knowledge type quest.
   The fuselage, or body, of the plane was a kit, and only took an
    afternoon to put together.
   The electronics that control the plane were basic elements of robotics
    called servos, tied to a radio receiver.




                                                                                6
How it Works
   The radio controller continually transmits an FM radio signal containing
    a 6 byte string, one byte for each channel of communication available
    between the controller and receiver.
   The receiver interprets the signal and adjusts each servo tied to it
    according to how the transmitter is telling it to.
   The servos are tied to the flight surfaces, and by adjusting them
    control of the airplane is possible.
   To control the speed of the motor, there is a device called an Electronic
    speed controller that connects to the receiver. It takes the signal from
    the receiver and instead of adjusting a servo, it translates it into a
    throttle setting and uses pulse width modulation to spin the motor the
    desired speed.


                                                                            7
How it Works (cont.)

         FM Receiver           Electronic Speed Controller




                                               To motor




Servos                 Battery Compartment
                                                          8
The Next Step
   As I developed it and observed what it was capable of, I knew my
    initial goal was accomplished, and I knew it would be capable of more
    range, better quality video, etc.
   This led to more advanced research in areas such as how RF (radio
    frequency) communication worked, antenna design, how video
    compression works, and the legality of using different radio
    frequencies.




                                                                            9
RESULTS
   The final result is a battery operated aerial
    observation platform capable of lifting and
    dropping small payloads that weigh less than 5
    ounces that anyone could operate effectively with
    very little training.




                                                        10
CONCLUSIONS
   While my exact plane would be of little practical use for any serious work due to its short
    flight time and very limited payload capacity, this proves that with parts mostly ordered off
    eBay this type of craft is possible.
   As with anything else, the more money available for the project, the more capable the final
    result will be. For instance, the camera I used I bought used on eBay for $30. I have seen
    cameras the same size or smaller that produce much better picture quality and have much
    farther range, but can cost several hundred or even thousand dollars.
   This has been a very educational venture for me. It has promoted me to look up how radio
    waves are generated and received, basic antenna theory and how to make the most
    effective antenna, basic and some advanced theory of photography, different forms of
    rechargeable batteries and the pros and cons of them (such as discharge rate, capacity,
    weight, etc), FCC regulations on radio communications and how to operate without violating
    them, video editing and compression techniques, and even some amateur radio theory and
    principles.
   During my research I found information on how to become a licensed amateur radio
    operator, and realized with the electronics background in the CEN program the test was
    basically review. Also with an amateur license, it would open up more frequency ranges for
    future projects. I went ahead and learned International Morse code as well, and am now a
    licensed amateur radio operator.

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Actual Systems
   U.S. Marine Corp - Dragon Eye Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
                        The Dragon Eye UAV is battery-operated and capable of fully
                         autonomous flight. Made of lightweight material, it is designed
                         to disassemble into five separate pieces and is intended to be
                         carried in an individual Marine's pack. Dragon Eye has a 45-inch
                         wingspan once assembled and weighs about five pounds.
                         Missions are programmed via a wireless modem that is
                         integrated into a twelve-pound ground control station. After
                         being hand- or bungee cord-launched, Dragon Eye flies to pre-
                         assigned GPS waypoints and has the ability to be reprogrammed
                         in flight. Its sensors include full motion color, low light and
                         infrared cameras, each capable of transmitting video line-of-
                         sight to a range of ten kilometers. Dragon Eye flies up to speeds
                         of 35 knots and has a battery endurance of one hour.
                         http://www.jfcom.mil/about/experiments/mc02/concepts/drageye.htm




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                 Demonstration
This is a live video feed from the wireless camera. I am using
Windows Media Encoder, a free download from Microsoft, to
stream the video.




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Q&A




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