Unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) are complex pieces of technology, with almost limitless potential due to its aerial movement and existing self-guided capabilities. Companies and organisations can use drones to complete tasks more efficiently, flexibly and with less error, among other benefits. Programmable drones, especially, are becoming more capable and more affordable in price as time goes on.
This project would utilise the advancing communication technologies within the Wirelessly Controlled industries and advanced computer processing powers available on drones and PCs. Combining them allows us to lay the groundwork for simultaneous, robust control and pathing of numerous programmable drones through one PC.
By implementing multiple drone control through one computer, we aim to demonstrate the tangible logistical and economical benefits over control over multiple computers. Benefits could apply to overlapping tasks that requires multiple drones, as well as repetitive tasks whose efficiency can be improved by increasing the number of drones. Further research could look into intelligent, real-time scheduling of drone resources over many different tasks.
Undergraduate
Research Components
● An investigation into existing communication protocols in current drone technology.
● An investigation into existing processes of tethering transmitters to, and controlling transmitters from a PC.
● An investigation into existing implementations of multi-drone control from a single transmitter and their limitations (including the feasibility of one transmitter vs multiple).
● Development of software able to control multiple drones using a single PC.
● Development of software able to safely maneuver multiple drones while avoiding collisions.
● An investigation into the pros and cons of multi-drone control from a single PC vs control from many PCs.
● Identify avenues for potential future research and improvements.
None
Lab allocations have not been finalised