Intelligent Systems Research Using a Small Autonomous Rotorcraft

Kurzfassung

This paper describes a recently initiated research project at the DLR Institute of Flight Systems for the evaluation of intelligent systems and functions for UAVs utilizing an inexpensive multipurpose rotary wing research platform. The design of the rotorcraft UAV as well as the research agenda for the project is being introduced, providing an outlook on planned areas of small UAV related research at DLR. Special emphasis is being put on payload experiments with a real-time onboard image processing system that can be used for vehicle motion tracking and obstacle detection. Imaging based methods combined with a high level mission planning architecture are going to be used for a generic collision avoidance system for UAVs.