sUAS Sensor Placement
DJI (2017). DJI Inspire 2
When looking at UAS, the first thing you must consider is the objective you are trying to accomplish with the system. Today we are looking for systems for two different objectives. The first objective is a sUAS that can perform aerial Full Motion Video (FMV) and still images. This task must be performed at an altitude below 400 ft to accommodate the current FAA regulations in place. The second objective is a sUAS that can perform First Person View (FPV) racing. We would like to have the system compete in a circuit and stand up to the competition. The systems that we are looking for must be Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS). We are looking for systems that are already built and can be purchased in a ready to fly state.
DJI (2017). DJI Inspire 2
The sUAS that I have chosen for the first objective is the DJI Inspire 2. The DJI Inspire two packs a camera that can provide FMV and still images in 5.2K quality. The camera is hanging under the system on a 360-degree gimbal auto balancing gimbal. The Inspire also has an autopilot system for autonomous flight. This almost completely removes the requirement of the pilot to be a professional sUAS pilot to operate well. “FlightAutonomy has been revised and developed specifically for the Inspire 2, providing two directions of obstacle avoidance and sensor redundancy.” (DJI, n.d.) Not only does this system have automous flight, but it packs sensors around the body to help prevent collision with other objects. Another reason this sUAS was chosen, was for the fact that the rotors lift vertically after it has taken off. With other systems out today, the rotors stay in view of the camera, which can ruin FMV if you happen to pan them into view. With the inspire, the rotors lift out of view of the camera, allowing you seamless footage of your area.
Walkera (2017). F210 3d
For the second objective, I have chosen the Walkera F210. For an FPV racer, one thing that beginners forget is that quadcopters must lean forward to travel forward. Newer racers will mount their camera facing forward on the frame, only to find that when they are racing, they are staring at the ground. The F210 comes with a variable pitch camera, allowing the pilot to rotate it for whatever type of flying they are doing at the time. The camera also packs a view angle of 120 degrees. This is much larger than other FPV racers allowing the pilot to see upcoming turns and obstacles more clearly during the circuit. Another factor that many new racers do not consider, is the fact that they are going to cash quite a few times when racing. This is essentially part of the fun. It isn’t fun, however, to break your expensive sUAS during a race. The F210 comes with “…brushless motor plus guard landing cushion frame design the F210 3D edition passed various rigorous reliability tests, including drop test crash test bending resistance test high and low temperature humidity test and etc.” (Walkera, n.d.) This preliminary testing helps ensure the survivability of the system when you crash.
Walkera (2017). F210 Crashing through glass
ReferencesDJI. (n.d.). DJI - The World Leader in Camera Drones/Quadcopters for Aerial Photography. Retrieved June 18, 2017, from https://www.dji.com/inspire-2/infoWalkera. (n.d.). F210 3D. Retrieved June 18, 2017, from http://www.walkera.com/index.php/Goods/info/id/38.html