Robust and Reduced SWaP Obstacle Sensing

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Small Unmanned Air Systems (SUAS), or "drones", have captured the public imagination. In the military domain SUAS can offer ‘Flying Binoculars’ capability, allowing a user to monitor an area of interest from the air, out of sight and out of danger. In the non-military domain, search & rescue, inspection and remote delivery have all been suggested as the next 'killer' application. To extend the range of SUAS uses, the systems must be capable of operating in the real world without human intervention. The technology required to operate SUAS autonomously in wide open spaces is relatively mature. Operation in complex environments, such as urban, is still challenging. The SUAS has to fly in and around trees, buildings, walls and, in some cases, people. Several critical capabilities are needed to enable this type of operation. Robust sensing of obstacles is one of these. A miniature obstacle avoidance module is proposed incorporating two cameras, a processor and an active rangefinder. The objective is a low cost module capable of sensing obstacle presence and relative position. The module, when incorporated with an SUAS, will enable new applications. lt will remove limitations to SUAS use in complex environments and will allow industry growth to proliferate.