Commercial Off the Shelf Unmanned Systems and Sensor Placement Considerations

The current availability of Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) vehicles that provide an advanced capability for both Full Motion Video (FMV) and still camera exteroceptive sensory is somewhat stagnant as this emerging market has yet to find it’s full market share.  The ability of these COTS vehicles to deliver amazing photography capability is without a doubt a tremendous advantage over traditional photography.  However, this emerging market continues to struggle with legal implications of operating Unmanned Autonomous Systems (UAS), which divides the vehicles into a toy based and semi-professional divide.  One of the best designed vehicles on the market that incorporates a well-designed sensor suite is the DJI Inspire 1.

Sensor placement in a UAS is a vital consideration of the design.  When incorporating exterior cameras the engineering team must consider the implications that external surfaces play as part of the design criteria.  Items like propellers, landing gear, antennas, and other exterior surfaces can suddenly obstruct the view of the camera.  The Inspire 1 is an out-of-the-box COTS solution for someone interested in performing still photography or FMV below 400 feet.  For approximately, $3,000 the user can immediately begin flying and filming at 4K quality.  The DJI also has an option to add a second controller which allows a sensor operator to focus entirely on the task of performing video or photography.  Meanwhile, the pilot or operator, can focus on safely and responsibly maneuvering the vehicle as necessary for high quality shots.  There are a host of more costly and capable vehicles that eclipse the Inspire 1 as there are many more that are less costly/capable.  The Inspire 1 fits nice between the phantom 2 and the s-900 as a middle ground for those doing work for clients (Oneal, 2014).  The DJI Inspire 1 fills the niche of a semi-professional vehicle quite nicely and does so with little to no competition in that particular price range.  With the phantom 1 and 2 all over the news, many people (the public) might think it’s a toy (Oneal, 2014).

The overall design of the DJI Inspire 1 is, well, “inspiring”.  The company has done a fine job of designing a platform of exteroceptive and proprioceptive sensors that function well without interference or interruption.  Most other vehicles, for instance, have issues when performing FMV or photography of only having a certain section of available clear view.  Due to the design placement of the exteroceptive camera coupled with retractable landing gear, the Inspire 1 has unobstructed viewing area from the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).  It produces high-definition, 4k, 360-degree aerial video that streams back to the device in real time (French, 2014). 

It seems almost cliché to continue reviewing the DJI Inspire 1 as the most well designed vehicle on the COTS market but with little to no competition in its market share one doesn’t have other options.  The overall design of the vehicle coupled with great thought placed into its structure and proprioceptive sensors it is difficult to argue any other vehicle as a reasonable replacement.   

A First Person View (FPV) racer utilizes a forward camera on board the UAV that transmits live images back to the pilot on the ground that is controlling the vehicle.  This gives the ground based pilot the sensation of actually flying on the aircraft.  Overlays are available depending on the proprioceptive sensors on board the vehicle that can relay critical performance feedback to the pilot in a Heads Up Display (HUD) orientation; much like a real aircraft.  As someone who has flown actual aircraft and FPV racers, I can tell you that one of the most critical proprioceptive sensors to have integrated into the design is an Internal Navigation System (INS)/Global Positioning System (GPS) coupled with a smart flight controller that provides stabilized flight parameters when the pilot loses situational awareness; a phenomenon fairly common when operating FPV. 

One currently available FPV is the ARRIS X-Speed 250 Pure Carbon Fiber FPV Racing Quadcopter.  This well designed COTS is a suitable option when considering a FPV racer.  One of the considerations of the FPV is the vibration seen through the camera as this exteroceptive sensor is mounted inside the frame of the vehicle to protect it during takeoff, landing, or crashing.  The X-Speed has a vibration damper plate on the upper and lower frame that filters the vibration effectively.  Other FPV manufacturers mount the camera in only one position.  A feature of the ARRIS X-SPEED is the angle of the FPV camera is adjustable. The angle adjustable range is 0 to 20 degree. (pitch up) (Hobby Wing, n.d.).  This feature allows the pilot to adjust the forward looking view based on their preference. 

Antenna on this vehicle are mounted above the frame as there are no landing gear to provide clearance for the vehicle.  It lands on its frame as a normal part of operation.  The upper omni antenna allows the vehicle to transmit reliable signal strength to the pilot without interruption.  The antenna is meant to separate from the vehicle in the event of a hard landing or crash in order to minimize the chance that it can be critically damaged. 

Overall, the X-Speed 250 is similar to other FPV racer UAS that are on the market but it has had a few minor improvements in order to make it a more capable vehicle.  Arris has done a fine job of designing a FPV racer that meets the needs of the pilot and provides a satisfying flying experience for the novice operator. 

French, S. (2014, November 13).  DJI’s Newest Drone, Inspire 1 with 3-Axis Gimbal and Retractable Landing Gear; The Drone Girl.  Retrieved from http://thedronegirl.com/2014/11/13/djis-newest-drone-inspire-1-with-3-axis-gimbal-and-retractable-landing-gear/.

Hobby Wing (n.d.).  ARRIS X-Speed 250 Pure Carbon Fiber FPV Racing Quadcopter.  Retrieved from http://hobby-wing.com/arris-xsp250-racing-quadcopter.html.

Oneal, D. (2014, November 13).  Thoughts on the DJI Inspire; That Drone Show.  Retrieved from http://www.thatdroneshow.com/thoughts-dji-inspire/.