The Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in Slope Stability Assessment

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Connor Meeks
Keyword(s):  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ◽  
3D Model ◽  
Complex Geometry ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Current Standard ◽  
Surface Areas ◽  
Helicopter Flight ◽  
Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Detailed Application

The use and applications of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in geotechnical engineering is rapidly growing, leading to changes in the way that data is acquired, analyzed and processed. UAVs can reach areas previously inaccessible via ground or helicopter, while also being quickly deployed. Cameras are the current standard for data collection and 3D model creation. There are multiple types of UAV’s currently available. Quadcopters can take off and land in spatially constrained areas, but carry a small stabilized camera producing low quality models. Octocopters permit an increased payload, so a higher quality camera can be attached, allowing for increased model accuracy. Flight time is reduced by the additional weight. Fixed wing UAVs create higher quality photogrammetry models, and are commonly deployed over large surface areas. Transport Canada certification must be approved prior to any flights occurring for research or work. A detailed application must be created, including a flight plan and demonstration of prior flight experience. At the White Canyon site in B.C., a Phantom 4 Quadcopter was flown for geotechnical analysis of a complex geometry slope, which has previously been studied for several years. The terrain has occluded the data available from the ground or from permissible helicopter flight paths. Therefore, detailed information from the slope has not been previously available. The process of using a UAV to obtain these data sets, to develop a full 3D model of these areas of the slope is discussed, considering the accuracy and quality of the data available.

scholarly journals Observing river stages using unmanned aerial vehicles

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomasz Niedzielski ◽  
Matylda Witek ◽  
Waldemar Spallek
Keyword(s):  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Water Surface ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Hydrodynamic Models ◽  
Surface Areas ◽  
Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
Sw Poland ◽  
High Flows ◽  
Student’S T

Abstract. We elaborated a new method for observing water surface areas and river stages using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). It is based on processing multitemporal m orthophotomaps produced from the UAV-taken visual-light photographs of n sites of the river, acquired with a sufficient overlap in each part. Water surface areas are calculated in the first place, and subsequently expressed as fractions of total areas of water-covered terrain at a given site of the river recorded on m dates. The logarithms of the fractions are later calculated, producing m samples of size n. In order to detect statistically significant increments of water surface areas between two orthophotomaps we apply the asymptotic and bootstrapped versions of the Student's t-test, preceded by other tests that aim to check model assumptions. The procedure is applied to five orthophotomaps covering nine sites of the Ścinawka river (SW Poland). The data have been acquired during the experimental campaign, at which flight settings were kept unchanged over nearly 3 years (2012–2014). We have found that it is possible to detect transitions between water surface areas produced by all characteristic water levels (low, mean, intermediate and high stages). In addition, we infer that the identified transitions hold for characteristic river stages as well. In the experiment we detected all increments of water level: (1) from low stages to: mean, intermediate and high stages; (2) from mean stages to: intermediate and high stages; (3) from intermediate stages to high stages. Potential applications of the elaborated method include verification of hydrodynamic models and the associated predictions of high flows using on-demand UAV flights performed in near real-time as well as monitoring water levels of rivers in ungauged basins.

scholarly journals Active stabilization of unmanned aerial vehicle imaging platform

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (19-20) ◽  
pp. 1791-1803 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohit Verma ◽  
Vicente Lafarga ◽  
Mael Baron ◽  
Christophe Collette
Keyword(s):  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle ◽  
Vibration Isolation ◽  
Isolation System ◽  
Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Active Stabilization ◽  
Aerial Vehicle ◽  
Active Vibration ◽  
Improved Performance

The advancement in technology has seen a rapid increase in the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for various applications. These unmanned aerial vehicles are often equipped with the imaging platform like a camera. During the unmanned aerial vehicle flight, the camera is subjected to vibrations which hamper the quality of the captured images/videos. The high-frequency vibrations from the unmanned aerial vehicle are transmitted to the camera. Conventionally, passive rubber mounts are used to isolate the camera from the drone vibrations. The passive mounts are able to provide reduction in response near the resonance. However, this comes at the cost of amplification of response at the higher frequency. This article proposes an active vibration isolation system which exhibits improved performance at the higher frequencies than the conventional system. The active isolation system consists of a contact-less voice coil actuator supported by four springs. Experiments are carried out to study the effect of vibrations on the quality of images captured. The characterization of drone vibrations is also carried out by recording the acceleration during different flight modes. The performance of the proposed isolation system is experimentally validated on a real drone camera subjected to the recorded drone acceleration spectrum. The isolation system is found to perform better than the conventional rubber mounts and is able to reduce the vibrations to a factor of one-fourth. It can be effectively used to improve the image acquisition quality of the unmanned aerial vehicles.

scholarly journals Internet of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: QoS Provisioning in Aerial Ad-Hoc Networks

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (11) ◽  
pp. 3160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirshna Kumar ◽  
Sushil Kumar ◽  
Omprakash Kaiwartya ◽  
Ajay Sikandar ◽  
Rupak Kharel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ad Hoc Networks ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Ad Hoc Network ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Qos Provisioning ◽  
Smart Services ◽  
Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Service Oriented ◽  
Hoc Networks

Aerial ad-hoc networks have the potential to enable smart services while maintaining communication between the ground system and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). Previous research has focused on enabling aerial data-centric smart services while integrating the benefits of aerial objects such as UAVs in hostile and non-hostile environments. Quality of service (QoS) provisioning in UAV-assisted communication is a challenging research theme in aerial ad-hoc networks environments. Literature on aerial ad hoc networks lacks cooperative service-oriented modeling for distributed network environments, relying on costly static base station-oriented centralized network environments. Towards this end, this paper proposes a quality of service provisioning framework for a UAV-assisted aerial ad hoc network environment (QSPU) focusing on reliable aerial communication. The UAV’s aerial mobility and service parameters are modelled considering highly dynamic aerial ad-hoc environments. UAV-centric mobility models are utilized to develop a complete aerial routing framework. A comparative performance evaluation demonstrates the benefits of the proposed aerial communication framework. It is evident that QSPU outperforms the state-of-the-art techniques in terms of a number of service-oriented performance metrics in a UAV-assisted aerial ad-hoc network environment.

scholarly journals Method for Estimating Solar Energy Potential Based on Photogrammetry from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Electronics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 2144
Author(s):  
Jose Eduardo Fuentes ◽  
Francisco David Moya ◽  
Oscar Danilo Montoya
Keyword(s):  
Solar Energy ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ◽  
3D Model ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Solar Panels ◽  
Energy Potential ◽  
Aerial Vehicles ◽  
3D Data ◽  
Surface Models

This study presents a method to estimate the solar energy potential based on 3D data taken from unmanned aerial devices. The solar energy potential on the roof of a building was estimated before the placement of solar panels using photogrammetric data analyzed in a geographic information system, and the predictions were compared with the data recorded after installation. The areas of the roofs were chosen using digital surface models and the hemispherical viewshed algorithm, considering how the solar radiation on the roof surface would be affected by the orientation of the surface with respect to the sun, the shade of trees, surrounding objects, topography, and the atmospheric conditions. The results show that the efficiency percentages of the panels and the data modeled by the proposed method from surface models are very similar to the theoretical efficiency of the panels. Radiation potential can be estimated from photogrammetric data and a 3D model in great detail and at low cost. This method allows the estimation of solar potential as well as the optimization of the location and orientation of solar panels.

scholarly journals Indicators for the Quality of Funds for Radioelectronic Countermeasure of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

2019 ◽  
Vol LVI (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikolay Gueorguiev ◽  
Aleksandar Kolarov ◽  
Vencislav Pehlivanski ◽  
Ognian Todorov
Keyword(s):  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Aerial Vehicles

scholarly journals FUZZY C-MEANS ALGORITHM FOR SEGMENTATION OF AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY DATA OBTAINED USING UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE

2015 ◽  
Vol XL-5/W6 ◽  
pp. 113-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. V. Akinin ◽  
N. V. Akinina ◽  
A. Y. Klochkov ◽  
M. B. Nikiforov ◽  
A. V. Sokolova
Keyword(s):  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Aerial Photography ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Fuzzy C Means ◽  
Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Aerial Vehicle ◽  
Fuzzy C Means Algorithm

The report reviewed the algorithm fuzzy c-means, performs image segmentation, give an estimate of the quality of his work on the criterion of Xie-Beni, contain the results of experimental studies of the algorithm in the context of solving the problem of drawing up detailed two-dimensional maps with the use of unmanned aerial vehicles. According to the results of the experiment concluded that the possibility of applying the algorithm in problems of decoding images obtained as a result of aerial photography. The considered algorithm can significantly break the original image into a plurality of segments (clusters) in a relatively short period of time, which is achieved by modification of the original k-means algorithm to work in a fuzzy task.

scholarly journals DEVELOPMENT OF BASIC STRUCTURE FOR QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OF TREND POTENTIAL OF COMPLEX TECHNICAL SYSTEM OF UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (7) ◽  
pp. 46-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. M. Balashov ◽  
S. A. Nazarevich ◽  
A. V. Urentsev
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Quality Management System ◽  
Planning Horizon ◽  
Basic Structure ◽  
Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Complex Technical System ◽  
Complex Technical Systems ◽  
Technical Systems

In conditions when the volume of government orders for defense products may significantly decline, enterprises of the radioelectronic industry are faced with the need to move to civilian product markets, which will stabilize the order portfolio and reduce macroeconomic and technological risks. The article presents the main approaches to the analysis of the trend potential of complex technical systems on the example of unmanned aerial vehicles. Methods for assessing the quality of complex technical systems at different stages of the development of the potential of complex technical systems in the structure of the life cycle are proposed. A hypothetical fragment of a chronological analysis of the potential state of complex technical systems with a planning horizon of five to ten years is presented. The proposed approaches and mathematical models make it possible to predict the potential and to optimize the consumer characteristics of complex technical systems, based on the requirements of customers, the development of their needs, as well as on the implementation of advanced standardization.

scholarly journals Resource allocation and service management in next generation 5G wireless networks

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Παναγιώτης Βαμβακάς
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Resource Allocation ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Utility Theory ◽  
Service Management ◽  
Learning Automata ◽  
Expected Utility Theory ◽  
Visible Light Communications ◽  
Aerial Vehicles

Η παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή πραγματεύτεται το πρόβλημα της βέλτιστης κατανομής πόρων και την πολύπλευρη διαχείριση υπηρεσιών σε ασύρματα δίκτυα 5ης γενιάς (5G). Βασικό αντικείμενο της εργασίας αποτελεί η βελτιστοποίηση της ποιότητας υπηρεσίας (Quality of Service) εντός του δικτύου τόσο στα πλαίσια της αύξησης της ενεργειακής αποδοτικότητας του δικτύου συνολικά, αλλά και λαμβάνοντας υπόψη την ετερογένεια μεταξύ των χρηστών ως προς τις απαιτήσεις της εκπομπής τους. Ειδικά σχεδιασμένες συναρτήσεις χρησιμότητας (utility functions) επιτρέπουν στους χρήστες να ποσοτικοποιούν διάφορες παραμέτρους της επικοινωνίας ζεύξης ανόδου (uplink communication) αντικατοπτρίζοντας την ικανοποίηση τους από την κατανομή των εκάστοτε πόρων (π.χ. ισχύς εκπομπής, ρυθμός μετάδοσης, κοστολόγηση κλπ.). Συγκεκριμένα, τα προβλήματα κατανομής πόρων μελετώνται υπό διαφορετικές τεχνολογίες αιχμής, τεχνικές πρόσβασης, αρχιτεκτονικές δικτύου και διακριτά είδη υπηρεσιών, υπό συνθήκες ανταγωνισμού των χρηστών ή σε αντίξοα περιβάλλοντα επικοινωνίας. Τα εκάστοτε προβλήματα μοντελοποιούνται ως μη συνεργατικά παίγνια τα οποία επιλύθηκαν με βάση τις αρχές της Θεωρίας Παιγνίων και Βελτιστοποίησης, παρέχοντας στους χρήστες τον βασικό έλεγχο της λήψης των αποφάσεων κατά την διάρκεια της εκπομπής τους. Με αυτόν τον τρόπο, επιτυγχάνεται η αποκέντρωση του συστήματος και η ισχυροποίηση του ρόλου των χρηστών στην διαδικασία της κατανομής πόρων και της βελτιστοποίηση της λειτουργίας του ασύρματου δικτύου. Σε κάθε περίπτωση, επιβεβαιώνεται η ύπαρξη του σημείου ισορροπίας κατά Nash (Nash Equilibrium) το οποίο αντιπροσωπεύει μια σταθερή έκβαση της κατανομής από την οποία κανένας χρήστης δεν επιθυμεί να παρεκλίνει. Παράλληλα, κατανεμημένοι αλγόριθμοι χαμηλής πολυπλοκότητας αναλαμβάνουν την σύγκλιση των παιγνίων στα ανωτέρω σημεία ισορροπίας. Πιο αναλυτικά, αρχικά ερευνήθηκε η κατανομή πόρων σε πολυεπίπεδα δίκτυα με χρήση μάκρο και φεμτοκυψελών (macro and femtocells) με τα προβλήματα να επεκτείνονται σε πιο ευρείες και σύνθετες κατανομές της ισχύος εκπομπής και του ρυθμού μετάδοσης για διαφορετικά είδη υπηρεσιών. Επίσης μελετήθηκε το πρόβλημα της κατανομής ισχύος και οπτικών σημείων πρόσβασης για επικοινωνίες ορατού φωτός (Visible Light Communications) για διαφορετικές τεχνικές πρόσβασης. Εν συνεχεία, αναλύθηκε το πρόβλημα της εξατομικευμένης κοστολόγησης της εκπομπής των χρηστών. Βασική καινοτομία της εν λόγω προσέγγισης, αποτελεί η παραδοχή ότι η εκάστοτε τιμή συνιστά έναν ακόμη πεπερασμένο πόρο προς κατανομή, σε αντίθεση με την βιβλιογραφία στην οποία αντιμετωπίζεται ως μια εξωτερική ποινή που επιβάλλεται από τον διαχειριστή ώστε να μειωθούν οι παρεμβολές εντός του δικτύου. Το πρόβλημα μελετάται για διαφορετικούς συνδυασμούς πόρων (ισχύος εκπομπής ή / και ρυθμού μετάδοσης) για ποικίλα σενάρια κοστολόγησης. Συνακόλουθα, το πρόβλημα εξετάστηκε υπό συνθήκες ανταγωνισμού των παρόχων υπηρεσίας, οι οποίοι προσαρμόζοντας τις πολιτικές και τα επίπεδα των τιμών, επιδιώκουν την απόκτηση μεγαλύτερων μεριδίων αγοράς. Οι χρήστες μοντελοποιούνται και λαμβάνουν αποφάσεις ως μανθάνοντα αυτόματα (learning automata) υπό τις αρχές της Νοημοσύνης των Μηχανών (Machine Learning), αυτοματοποιώντας έτσι την βέλτιστη επιλογή του παρόχου. Η παρούσα διατριβή επίσης διερευνά τα προβλήματα της δυναμικής σύνθεσης υπηρεσιών (service bundling) και κατανομής πόρων μέσω του σχεδιασμού συνεργατικών τηλεπικοινωνιακών προϊόντων, τα οποία καθορίζονται αυτόνομα από τους χρήστες. Παράλληλα, μελετήθηκε η βέλτιστη ασύρματη φόρτιση της μπαταρίας των χρηστών με κριτήριο τις ενεργειακές ανάγκες των χρηστών από την επικείμενη εκπομπή τους. Ολοκληρώνοντας, στην διδακτορική αυτή διατριβή, το πρόβλημα της κατανομής πόρων αντιμετωπίζεται συνολικά μέσω μίας καινοτόμου και ρεαλιστικής προσέγγισης υιοθετώντας την χρήση της Θεωρίας Προοπτικής (Prospect Theory), η οποία ανατρέπει την έως τώρα επιλογή της Θεωρίας Αναμενόμενης Χρησιμότητας (Expected Utility Theory) σε θέματα κατανομής πόρων. Για πρώτη φορά στην σχετική βιβλιογραφία, τα προβλήματα διατυπώνονται ενσωματώνοντας την υποκειμενικότητα των χρηστών στην λήψη αποφάσεων όταν επικρατούν συνθήκες αβεβαιότητας, ενώ ταυτόχρονα για πρώτη φορά εισάγεται η συνθήκη της πιθανής κατάρρευσης του εύρους ζώνης λόγω της υπέρμετρης χρήσης του εντός του δικτύου. Το ανωτέρω πλαίσιο υλοποιείται για διαφορετικά σενάρια (συνδυασμός αδειοδοτημένου και μη εύρους ζώνης, ταυτόχρονη εκπομπή μέσω πολλαπλών τεχνικών πρόσβασης), ενώ επιπλέον αναλύεται η κατανομή πόρων και η ασφάλεια (network security) σε δίκτυα δημόσιας ασφάλειας (Public Safety Networks) με αξιοποίηση μη επανδρωμένων αεροσκαφών (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles).

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