Version 8 of UAV Navigation's Flight Control System (FCS) allows the creation of flight plans with waypoints which update their position automatically in relation to a moving reference point, such as a Ground Control Station (GCS) located onboard a ship or a ground based vehicle.
In addition to UAV Navigation’s GCS, this moving external reference point may be any device capable of providing positional information. The system automatically recalculates and updates the waypoints in a flight plan, thereby achieving referenced navigation.
For fixed wing UAVs operating from traditional runways, the landing manoeuvre is usually the most challenging and critical stage of any flight.
Primoco, a Czech company, has been testing the latest version of UAV Navigation’s Flight Control System (FCS) on its 150kg fixed wing UAV. During the tests Primoco noted a number of improvements, including more efficient and advanced control, and in particular a completely automatic take-off and landing capability without using RTK or DGPS systems.
Internal combustion engines continue to be commonly used for powering unmanned vehicles, and in particular UAVs. In order to allow the autopilot (and by extension the operator) to control such an engine it is vital to ensure correct communications between the autopilot and the Engine Control Unit (ECU). The ECU not only provides throttle control, but it also feeds back important information to the ground control station about the engine's performance and status; common parameters include: cylinder head temperature, exhaust gas temperature, fuel pressure and flow rate, RPM etc.
UAV Navigation will be attending Paris Airshow:
Le Salon International de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace (SIAE) de Paris-Le Bourget.
As is generally understood, camera gimbals are probably the most widely integrated payloads onto UAV platforms. The applications for such stabilised cameras include defense and security, search and rescue, aerial photography and agricultural monitoring to name but a few. However, simply installing the camera is not enough; it is critical to obtain a steady, high-quality picture in order to successfully achieve the objective of the mission.
