Unmanned Aerial Systems: June 2016

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL – RFP

The design requirement for this request for proposal (RFP) is to provide an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) that can provide damage and rescue assessment of areas post-earthquake. An earthquake creates a tremendous amount of damage which sometimes makes evacuation impossible for residents and also limits the accessibility of rescue personnel to provide medical care. This UAS will be launched from a mobile command post and will provide a global overview of areas in which individuals may be trapped or requiring medical assistance. This vehicle will provide full motion video (FMV) along with persistent reconnaissance and surveillance for rescue teams to make the best decision as part of their safety mitigation rescue plan. Additionally, this vehicle will be able to access buildings that are toppled over, crushed, or beyond easy access for a rescue team. Each aspect of the RFP will be analyzed below to provide the most capable vehicle. The proposed commercial off the shelf (COTS) unit to satisfy the requirements of this RFP is the DJI Inspire 1.

Requirements:

Transportability

1. Entire system (all elements) shall be transportable (in a hardened case) and weight less than 50 lbs (one-person lift)

a. GPC case will contain all of the components necessary to carry a DJI Inspire 1 (GPC: Go Professional Cases, n.d.)

i. Exterior Length 31.63 in

ii. Exterior Width 20.5 in

iii. Exterior Depth 15.75 in

iv. Wight 28 lbs

v. Cost $ 469

Cost

1. Shall be less than $100,000 (equipment cost only)

a. DJI Inspire 1 cost $ 2,737 (DJI Store, n.d.)

i. Inspire 1 ready-to-fly all-in-one flying platform

ii. Second Inspire 1 remote controller for dual operators to easily control flight and camera functions.

iii. Spare Inspire 1 TB47 Intelligent Flight Battery

iv. Inspire 1 Battery Heater to ensure safe and reliable flights in low temperatures.

v. Battery Charging Hub to safely and rapidly charge up to four batteries at once.

vi. Remote Controller Monitor Hood (for Tablets) to shield your tablets from direct sunlight for a perfect view of your display.

vii. Two pairs of 1345T Quick-Release Propellers, including one pair of clockwise replacement propellers and one pair of counter-clockwise replacement propellers.

b. Recommend each mobile command vehicle be outfitted with 10 complete kits along with a small parts repair inventory.

Air vehicle element

1. Shall be capable of flight up to 500 feet altitude above ground level (AGL)

a. Max Service Ceiling Above Sea Level 4500 m (Default altitude limit: 120 m above takeoff point) – 14,000 ft (DJI, n.d.)

2. Shall be capable of sustained flight (at loiter speed) in excess of one hour

a. Max Flight Time Approximately 18 minutes (DJI, n.d.)

i. Multi-aircraft standard operating procedure will accomplish this requirement. One vehicle loitering, One vehicle prep for launch/replacement, One vehicle returning to base.

ii. When in flight, your remaining battery power is shown live, letting you know how long you can continue to fly. Advanced algorithms calculate the distance of your aircraft and estimated time to return home, letting you know when it’s time to fly back (DJI, n.d.)

3. Shall be capable of covering an operational radius of one mile

a. Maximum Transmitting Distance Up to 5 km or 3.1 miles (unobstructed, free of interference) when FCC compliant (DJI, n.d.)

b. Up to 3.5 km or 2.1 miles (unobstructed, free of interference) when CE compliant (DJI, n.d.)

4. Shall be deployable and on station (i.e., in air over mission area) in less than 15 minutes

a. Vehicle is neatly packaged in case and easily removed/assembled in less than 15 minutes

5. Shall be capable of manual and autonomous operation

a. IMU: Automatically keeping the Inspire 1 stable and steady during flight only looks easy, as DJI’s advanced Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) handles everything. The IMU incorporates both a 6-axis gyroscope and an accelerometer to monitor miniscule changes in tilt and movement. This allows the aircraft to compensate and adjust immediately, holding its position at all times (DJI, n.d.)

b. Positioning: As it flies, the position of your Inspire 1 is constantly updated and recorded using a high-strength, intelligent GLONASS + GPS system. This dual positioning system enables higher precision and quicker satellite acquisition, allowing you to see where the aircraft is on a live map and giving it a point to hover at when you release the controls (DJI, n.d)

c. Main Controller: This is the "brain" of the entire system, receiving thousands of bits of data every second and translating that data into action as you fly. The Main Controller tells every part of your Inspire 1 what to do, calculates environmental conditions in real-time, and ensures that the aircraft responds to your control commands instantly (DJI, n.d.)

d. All of these features combine to put your Inspire 1 on autopilot when needed. If the battery runs low or connection with your remote controller is lost, the Inspire 1 uses its positioning system and smart flight technology to return back to you (DJI, n.d.)

6. Shall provide capture of telemetry, including altitude, magnetic heading, latitude/longitude position, and orientation (i.e., pitch, roll, and yaw)

7. Shall provide power to payload, telemetry sensors, and data-link

a. Modular, upgradeable system: Upgradeable to Inspire X5 Series, and usable with the DJI OSMO.

b. The DJI Inspire 1 does not have external payload capability beyond DJI products. This RFP suggests working directly with DJI in order to research and develop (R&D) a solution. External manufacturers can be consulted in order to deliver a suitable solution as well.

c. External downlink capability is also questionable but can be investigated in order to deliver multi-feed capability.

8. Shall provide capability to orbit (i.e., fly in circular pattern around) or hover over an object of interest

a. Hover in place without GPS: You can take off and land at the press of a button and keep your Inspire 1 steady indoors or when GPS satellites can’t be acquired with the new DJI Vision Positioning System (DJI, n.d.)

Command & Control (C2)

1. Shall be capable of manual and autonomous operation

2. Shall provide redundant flight control to prevent flyaway

a. Failsafe: If the battery runs low or connection with your remote controller is lost, the Inspire 1 uses its positioning system and smart flight technology to return back to you.

3. Shall visually depict telemetry of air vehicle element

a. See section above with depiction of telemetry

4. Shall visually depict payload sensor views

a. See section above with depiction of telemetry

Payload

1. Shall be capable of color daytime video operation up to 500 feet AGL

a. 4K video and more (DJI, n.d.)

i. 9-layer lens helps you capture the best aerial views possible.

ii. Rectilinear, curved lens design eliminates distortion, and the 20mm focal length opens up your shots to a remarkably wide angle without that fish-eye look.

iii. Compact camera shoots video at up to 4Kp30 or 1080p60 and takes crisp, clear 12 megapixel stills.

2. Shall be capable of infrared (IR) video operation up to 500 feet AGL

a. The camera on the DJI Zenmuse XT is developed by FLIR. It provides high-sensitivity (50mK) infrared scanning at 640/30 fps or 336/30 fps depending on the camera model. This sensitivity provides accurate temperature measurements ideal for analytics and telemetry. Both cameras are available with four lens options to meet different business needs. Stabilized and controlled by a custom DJI gimbal, it provides smooth, clear imagery and 360 degrees of seamless rotational movement (DJI, n.d.)

b. R&D required to determine capability and factors involved with flying this payload.

3. Shall be interoperable with C2 and data-link

a. Operating Frequency (DJI, n.d.)

i. 922.7~927.7 MHz (Japan Only)

ii. 5.725~5.825 GHz

iii. 2.400~2.483 GHz

4. Shall use power provided by air vehicle element

a. Power Spectral Density (DJI, n.d.)

i. 9.06mW/MHz

Data-link (communications)

1. Shall be capable of communication range exceeding two miles visual line of sight (VLOS)

a. Maximum Transmitting Distance (DJI, n.d.)

i. Up to 5 km or 3.1 miles (unobstructed, free of interference) when FCC compliant (DJI, n.d.)

ii. Up to 3.5 km or 2.1 miles (unobstructed, free of interference) when CE compliant (DJI, n.d.)

2. Shall provide redundant communication capability (backup) for C2

a. A backup parts supply as part of a mobile disaster response vehicle will provide repair capability

b. Air Vehicle has automatic return to base capability (RTB) when link is lost or severed.

3. Shall use power provided by air vehicle element

a. Power Spectral Density (DJI, n.d.)

b. 9.06mW/MHz

Support equipment

1. Design shall identify any support equipment required to support operation

a. Mobile command and control vehicle

i. Requires space to hold 10 DJI Inspire kits

ii. Requires space to hold spare parts kit

iii. Requires area to seat 3 to 4 in-vehicle analysts to assist in video feed monitoring

1. This team will be part of the disaster response plan team

2. Will monitor via frequency sharing

iv. Requires intercom panel and ground based communications between monitoring team and DJI pilots

IMPLEMENTATION & TESTING PHASE

1. Demonstration Phase (Developmental Test)

i. Mobile Vehicle Procurement (2 months)

b. Initial purchase of 3 DJI Inspire 1 systems (2 months)

i. Demonstrates 1 – vehicle prep, 1- vehicle pre-launch, and 1 – vehicle RTB.

c. Organize mock disaster response exercise (small scale)

i. Develop scaled down area that represents a cross section of requirements

1. Unable to access a 1 square mile of residents and mixed commercial

2. Questionable safety of large commercial building with unknown amount of individuals trapped inside

3. Vehicle will need to meet the following requirements

a. Overview of area that is inaccessible

b. Determine safest means of access by rescue team

c. Determine downed power lines, ruptured gas lines, or other environmental issues that are hazards to rescue team

d. Determine buildings that are a hazard for access

e. Determine individuals that require immediate medical assistance

4. Persistent ISR for 1 hour

5. Safety response team must complete the following tasks as part of exercise

a. Communicate effectively between pilots and mobile command unit

b. Operate persistent ISR for 1 hour

c. Determine best means of access for rescue team to trapped area

d. Locate individual injured in open requiring immediate medical attention

e. Located toppled large commercial building and locate individual trapped inside

f. Locate ruptured water line creating a flooding event in residential neighborhood

g. Utilize IR to locate a trapped individual under a floral canopy

2. Refine Requirements (2 months)

a. Determine any adjustments to products necessary

b. Final design criteria for mobile vehicle design requirements

3. Procurement Phase (6 months – 1 year)

a. Construction of fixed base control center

b. Mobile vehicle command post procurement

c. DJI Inspire 1 purchase

d. Support equipment and spares procurement

4. Large Scale Exercise (Operational Test)

a. Organize an exercise that will require the coordination of multiple teams across a large scale area.

5. Implementation (Project Completion)

a. Deliver fully integrated solution to earthquake response team

b. Organize a periodic exercise schedule that is both planned and unplanned in order to refine requirements

CONCLUSION

The DJI Inspire 1 vehicle is a COTS that is readily available to perform the requirements of this RFP. The construction of a capable support vehicle will require careful planning in order to deliver a command unit that is ready to respond to an earthquake event with a disaster response team. This vehicle will be able to provide full motion video in both daytime and IR that can determine best routes of access while also determining areas in which medical care is required. R&D along with operational testing can be closely coordinated with disaster response teams in planned exercises. Additional requirements will need to be negotiated with DJI in order to deliver capability or an external design team that can engineer simple solutions based on existing architecture.

REFERENCES

DJI (n.d.) Inspire 1 Specs. Retrieved from http://www.dji.com/product/inspire-1/info#specs.

DJI Store (n.d.) Inspire 1 V. 2.0. Retrieved from http://store.dji.com/product/inspire-1-v2.

GPC: Go Professional Cases (n.d.) DJI Inspire 1 X5 Landing Mode Case. Retrieved from http://goprofessionalcases.com/dji-inspire-1-landing-mode-x5.html.

Selling a home is no easy task and the real estate agents that find new and creative ways to market a home tend to be the most successful. Those successful real estate agents will tell you that one of the most important aspects of selling a home is investing in the project through efficient marketing. Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) offer an opportunity for real estate agents to present unique photos and videos of the home they are representing to potential buyers. Some agents claim that “drones” are the most important new technology to enter real estate marketing since the internet (Nixon, 2016). The sUAS offers never before seen clarity in both pictures and video that give a potential buyer a better view of the home while searching over the internet. The real estate agent who offers these live video and aerial photography options to a home seller will be sure to sell homes quicker and at a higher asking price than those who don’t.

There are currently three very capable platforms that can do a professional job of real estate aerial services. The DJI Inspire, Phantom 4, and the 3DR Iris are all reasonably priced entry level commercial off the shelf (COTS) solutions to real estate photography.

The DJI Inspire 1 V2.0 is a revolutionary HD camera drone that makes it easy for 1- or 2-person teams to produce extremely high quality 4K HD and Micro Four-Thirds video from up to 2 km away (Nixon, 2016). DJI has packed a ton of new technology into the Inspire 1 to improve reliability, safety and video quality (Nixon, 2016). With an entry level price below $3,000 and an intuitive Professional DJI Flight Control System, this is a smart choice for someone who wants to purchase a vehicle, remove it from the box, and begin working. The DJI is capable of flying indoors without GPS which is a necessity while filming large scale luxury homes. Most users will experience approximately 18-20 minutes of flight in stable low wind conditions. If you’re looking for a ready-to-fly camera drone for professional-quality film making, surveillance, inspection, law enforcement or event coverage, the Inspire 1 is tough to beat at this price (Nixon, 2016).

The DJI Phantom 4 is slightly cheaper and a highly suitable platform for UAS aerial photography. Designed for high-quality aerial photography and cinematography, the DJI Phantom 4 is the most intelligent, easy-to-operate flying camera drone available for less than $2,000 (Nixon, 2016). The Phantom 4 has demonstrated up to 24 minutes of flight and is capable of flight as far as 1.2 miles. One might think it would be difficult to maintain FAA mandated line of sight as far as 1.2 miles, and they would be correct. The biggest breakthrough for the Phantom 4 is its inclusion of a new Optical Sensor unit and real-time 3D vision system that makes it capable of automatically detecting and avoiding obstacles while in flight (Smith, 2016). Sense and avoid is a tremendous selling point as part of the real estate aerial services safety mitigation plan.

3DR has built a vehicle known as the IRIS that can be fitted with a moveable gimbal and GoPro camera making it a viable performer in this class of sUAS. Max flight time is listed as 22 minutes. The Iris uses a standard controller but has other options for control that are less than reliable. Capability is not as advanced as the other options but for an entry price just under $1,000, the 3DR is a nice entry platform for the beginner UAS aerial photographer.

While using a sUAS might seem like an extremely lucrative business idea to some, there are numerous issues surrounding the business application of aerial vehicles. First and foremost, operations aren’t currently legal without navigating the incredibly cumbersome FAA process of obtaining a Certificate of Authorization and Type 333 exemption. While many are operating despite those qualifications, the FAA has been quick to fine many operators. The list below also outlines some limitations in the capabilities of a sUAS.

There are still certain kinds of photos and videos that a flying camera is not well suited for, including:

Carefully-focused, fixed position photography. For example, shots designed to avoid an unpleasant feature or to help a room or yard appear larger.

The interiors of smaller spaces, such as condos or apartments

Homes shrouded by trees or other buildings.

Standard street-level shots that all buyers have come to expect in a listing. (Nixon, 2016)

Other users have found sUAS as a hype or fad that doesn’t really offer any unique capability. This is a tool of macro proportions only (Smith, 2014). That means that it’s only really useful for wide shots, like aerial views from 100 to 200 feet (or higher) (Smith, 2014). Every breeze from a passing car or the AC unit is going to push it away or pull it down (Smith, 2014). This particular writer doesn’t share which vehicle they used in their assessment, but it’s easy to surmise that they either used one of lesser capability or did not know how to operate their vehicle to optimize its features.

Privacy is a tremendous concern when operating a sUAS in an area where other homes or individuals may be filmed or photographed. Special care must be taken by the operator to canvas the neighborhood and inform others about the nature of the operations prior to initiating flight. Privacy rights regarding public photography and video is a grey area, especially in the technologically advanced world of cell phone cameras and videos that currently proliferate the public.

Risk Mitigation needs to be a consideration when operating sUAS in real estate photography. A wise operator will have dedicated areas for launch and recovery that are sectioned off from the general public. Clear signage and explanations of the operations will also alleviate public concerns regarding safety and privacy. Insurance and liability should be a prime concern for the operator as well. There are plenty of forces beyond your control that can bring your drone down and put your business on hold – or worse, damage a person or property (Amato, 2015). Getting hull and liability insurance for your drone often costs about as much as a second drone so it may be worth getting some coverage if you are going to aggressively pursue new opportunities (Amato, 2015).

Once the FAA approves a clear set of rules, regulations, and policies the real estate photography business will be a lucrative venture for UAS operators. The three drones listed are initial COTS vehicles that have proven their capability. These initial pioneers pave the way for future designs that will be sure to add additional capability while adding safety measures to protect the public from harm.

REFERENCES

Amato, A. (2015, May). 7 Pieces of Advice to Consider When Starting an Aerial Photography Company; Dronelife.com. Retrieved from http://dronelife.com/2015/05/12/7-advice-aerial-photography-company/

Smith, C. (2014, August). 8 Reasons Why Not to Buy a Drone for Real Estate Videos; Tampa Bay Area Wholesale Real Estate & Investment Properties. Retrieved from http://btgh.com/why-not-to-buy-a-drone-for-real-estate-videos/

Nixon, A. (2016, April). Fly It, or Buy It? The Complete Guide To Using Camera Drones for Real Estate Marketing; Best Drone for the Job. Retrieved from http://bestdroneforthejob.com/drone-buying-guides/fly-it-or-buy-it-the-complete-guide-to-using-camera-drones-for-real-estate-marketing/

Unmanned Aerial Systems

Sunday, June 12, 2016

Request For Proposal- Earthquake Emergency Response Utilizing UAS

Thursday, June 2, 2016

A Practical Use for sUAS in the Real Estate Sales Services