Sense and Avoid Sensor Selection
DJI (2017). Phantom 4 Sensors
In this activity, we are focusing on sense and avoid solutions on small UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems). The subject of my discussion is the DJI Phantom series of commercial sUAS. The latest model created by DJI is the Phantom 4. The DJI Phantom is one of the front runners in COTS (Commercial Off the Shelf) systems for UAS. For sense and avoid, the Phantom 4 is packing quite the payload. “The Phantom 4 Pro has both front and rear visual sensors that can detect obstacles up to 98 feet or 30 meters away. Sensors on its belly can help avoid landing on uneven ground or water, while infrared sensing systems on both sides allows the drone to figure out where it is within a space, recognizing obstacles up to 23 feet or 7 meters away. The top of the drone is the only side left unprotected.” (Goldman & Hoyle, 2016) This quite a package for commercial systems. You normally see systems like this in military systems. From an Air Force Pilot’s perspective, these systems completely surpass systems that I see on a day to day basis
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When looking at current sUAS systems, I believe this is the best system for your money. The latest model is the DJI Phantom 4. It runs for a price of around 1200 (DJI). Onboard the Phantom, the front and back cameras are one of the more important parts of the SAA (Sense and Avoid) system. These will be the ones to see most of the obstacles that the sUAS will try to avoid. DJI states that the vision system can see obstacles between 2 – 49 feet away. It can see obstacles within a velocity of ≤10 m/s (2 m above ground). This is an important note because if you have two sUAS flying in the same vicinity of each other, this may cause these threats to be traveling faster than your detectable speed. The Phantom also has the ability to detect downward for obstacle clearance. This helps keep the system from descending into objects below it. On the sides of the Phantom are optical laser sensors that are constantly scanning for obstacles. Together, the Phantom 4 has 5 directions of sensing.
Overall, the Phantom 4 will give you the best bag for your buck when it comes to sense and avoid. It can detect obstacles and autonomously avoid them inflight to help the user continue flying without worrying about running into other objects. With 4 cameras placed around the system, it is constantly looking around to keep itself clear. With the added downward sensor and the optical sensors on the side, the DJI is one of the best SAA sUAS you can buy.
References
Drone World. (n.d.). Retrieved July 15, 2017, from http://www.drone-world.com/dji-phantom-4-sense-avoid-obstacle-avoidance/
Drone World Video. (2016, March 02). Phantom 4 A Look Inside. Retrieved July 15, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYIHH4nMmKI
Goldman, J., & Hoyle, A. (2016, November 17). DJI Phantom 4 Pro. Retrieved July 15, 2017, from https://www.cnet.com/products/dji-phantom-4-pro/preview/
Popper, B. (2016, November 15). DJI introduces Pro edition of its Phantom 4 drone. Retrieved July 15, 2017, from https://www.theverge.com/2016/11/15/13626656/dji-phantom-4-pro-drone-360-obstacle-avoidance