Author - Pamela

02Oct

Inertial Labs releases Industrial and Tactical grade IMU-P, MEMS Inertial Measurement Units

Inertial Labs, Inc. developer and supplier of high performance Inertial Sensors & Systems, recently released its Industrial and Tactical grade IMU-P, MEMS Inertial Measurement Units. Since its introduction in 2015, the IMU-P received much acclaim as a MEMS Inertial Measurement Unit. The IMU-P's outstanding reliability and accuracy in challenging environments -- such as high vibration, rapidly changing temperature extremes, and tough mission profiles -- grew its success. In addition to selling as a stand alone IMU, the IMU-P is integrated into Inertial Labs' AHRS, MRU, and GPS-Aided INS products.  

Growing demand for industrial and tactical

In order to satisfy market demands for Industrial and Tactical grade Inertial Measurement Units, Inertial Labs released two versions of the IMU-P:
  • IMU-P Industrial, with gyroscope residual Bias error over temperature of less than 100 deg/hr (72 deg/hr typical);
  • IMU-P Tactical, with gyroscope residual Bias error over temperature of less than 30 deg/hr (20 deg/hr typical);
The IMU-P Industrial is an excellent solution for stabilization and pointing, where a very efficient and low cost IMU can be an alternative to FOG based systems for EOS stabilization and Line of Sight pointing applications. IMU-P Tactical is a compact, lightweight, and affordable solution with high performance gyroscopes: 1 deg/hr in-run Bias stability and 30 deg/hr maximum Bias error over its operational temperature range (-40°C to 85°C), and superior accelerometers: 5 micro g in-run Bias stability and 0.5 mg Bias residual error over its operational temperature range.  This performance, coupled with its small size and cost, gives IMU-P Tactical a distinct advantage over existing MEMS IMUs on the market. Both models of IMU-P, Industrial and Tactical output high precision Pitch and Roll with 0.05 deg dynamic accuracy.  

IMU-P applications

The high performance IMU-P works in various tactical guidance, navigation, flight control, stabilization, and pointing systems. Due to its high performance level, IMU-P provides an excellent alternative to legacy tactical grade FOG IMU’s providing advantages in size, weight, power, and cost (SWaPC). The device also supports the functions of existing IMUs on the market. For example, the IMU-P is configurable to have the same mechanical and electrical interface as the STIM300. Thus, it acts as a drop-in replacement to STIM300 for approximately half the price. Other publicly available and published protocols can be supported as well. This provides customers a lower cost alternative for their existing designs without additional development costs. "More than one thousand delivered is a significant milestone signifying product maturity and customer acceptance," said Jamie Marraccini, Inertial Labs’ CEO & President. "Inertial Labs continues to invest in the IMU-P and in our IMU-P based AHRS, MRU, and GPS-Aided INS products." Shop Inertial Labs' line of products at Unmanned Systems Source.
By Vendor News, , , , , Comments OffRead more...
28Sep

Hemisphere GNSS Debuts Next-Generation S321+ and C321+ GNSS Smart Antennas

Hemisphere GNSS announced the release of their next-generation, multi-frequency, multi-GNSS S321+ and C321+ GNSS smart antennas. Hemisphere made the announcement at INTERGEO 2017, in Berlin, Germany.  

Robust and reliable

Powered by the Eclipse P326 OEM board, the smart antennas support 394 channels. They can simultaneously track all satellite signals, including: GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, and QZSS. This powerful set of features makes them robust and reliable. S321+ and C321+ come standard with two long-life lithium batteries providing up to 12 hours of operation. The batteries are hot-swappable so operators can change them without stopping work, maximizing efficiency and ROI. The S321+ and C321+ combine Hemisphere’s Athena GNSS engine and Atlas L-band correction technologies with a new webUI. These smart antennas offer an unparalleled level of customer-friendly performance. Designed for the most challenging environments, these ruggedized antennas meet IP67-standard requirements. The S321+ and C321+ come in two versions, with 4G LTE optimized for either North American or international locations.  

Centimeter-level RTK

Powered by Athena GNSS engine, the S321+ and C321+ provide best-in-class, centimeter-level RTK. Athena excels in virtually every environment where high-accuracy GNSS receivers are in use. Tested and proven, Athena’s performance with long baselines, in open-sky environments, under heavy canopy, and in geographic locations experiencing significant scintillation is nothing short of cutting edge. “The S321+ and C321+ represent the advanced technology, durability, and ease of use that our customers have come to expect,” said Miles Ware, Director of Marketing at Hemisphere GNSS. “By upgrading these systems with increased functionality and management capabilities, we are offering unbeatable value to the industry.”  

Atlas GNSS Global Corrections

The S321+ and C321+ ship pre-configured to test-drive corrections from Hemisphere’s Atlas L-band correction service. The bundled solution provides users worldwide with an easy way to utilize Atlas, including Hemisphere’s Atlas H10 service offering 8 cm 95% accuracy (4 cm RMS). They also use Hemisphere’s aRTK™ technology, powered by Atlas. This allows the receivers to operate with RTK accuracies when RTK corrections fail. If the S321+ and C321+ are Atlas-subscribed, they operate at the subscribed service level until RTK is restored. The S321+ is the ideal positioning system for applications such as land or marine survey, GIS, mapping, and construction. Together with SureFix™, Hemisphere’s advanced processor, the S321+ delivers high-fidelity RTK quality information that results in guaranteed precision with virtually 100% reliability. Designed specifically for construction environments, the C321+ adds another system component that empowers heavy equipment manufacturers to deliver their own machine control and guidance solutions to their customers. The C321+ can pair with Hemisphere’s recently announced SiteMetrix™ site management software platform that helps manage all construction jobsite activities, including grade and volume checking.  

About Hemisphere GNSS

Hemisphere GNSS is an innovative technology company that designs and manufactures high-precision positioning products and services for use in OEM/ODM, marine, machine control & guidance, agriculture, and L-band correction service markets.   Shop Hemisphere GNSS line of smart antennas at Unmanned Systems Source.  
By Vendor News, , , , , Comments OffRead more...
27Sep

Accident reconstruction and drone applications

Documenting, investigating and reconstructing accident scenes is time consuming. And, depending on the site, it can also pose risks for reconstruction specialists. The work, though, is vital. The data gathered from reconstructing an accident helps officials identify what went wrong. It also informs future decisions to improve overall traffic safety. The pressure to clear the roads as quickly as possible following an incident, is enormous. However, documenting the accident is vital…and some can stretch over a considerable area. Photographing, measuring and capturing all the details using traditional methods takes considerable time and energy. So, it should come as no surprise that some public safety departments are testing the feasibility of drone use for reconstruction efforts.  

Accident reconstruction via drone

As technology advanced, the possibility of creating 3D models via drone became a reality. Currently, data gathering methods include a mixture of photography, laser scanners and total stations to produce a 3D point cloud of the site. And, it often requires personnel trained in surveying. Drones may help reconstruction specialists document incidents more quickly and accurately than traditional methods. One drone flight can collect vital image data. This image data, coupled with advances in photogrammetry software, is highly dynamic. Specialists can create 3D point cloud, a model, measurable orthomosaics, and detailed reports. And, importantly, all the data is there for further analysis.  

Getting ready for the real world

Recently, a number of public safety officials in North Carolina gathered to observe the possibility of drone use for accident investigations. The scenario played out at the  Buncombe County Public Safety Training Facility. The demonstration involved a head-on vehicle collision. Two reconstruction teams quickly jumped into action. One team was the State Highway Patrol Collision Reconstruction Unit. The other team was the Division of Aviation UAS flight team...using drones. The Highway Patrol team completed the reconstruction in 1 hour 51 minutes. The UAS team completed the same work in 25 minutes.  

Less specialization required?

Sophisticated flight planning software means there is less need for highly specialized training to document accident scenes. Processing the data after, is another story. However, in situations where specialized personnel are unavailable or unable to get to the scene, flying a drone over the scene and capturing important data is a viable option. The future of drone use for accident reconstruction is just in the beginning stages. However, the benefits of capturing information quickly, securing the safety of personnel and clearing roads faster means it is only a matter of time before drones are an important public safety tool.
By Industry News, , Comments OffRead more...
21Sep

Crash test dummy vs. drone

The push to create the infrastructure to support drone delivery on a massive scale continues. Of course, there are numerous challenges to identify and overcome before this is reality. One such dilemma involves the safety of people on the ground. Enthusiasts envision a day when drones populate the skies delivering packages, conducting public safety operations and much more. However, before this occurs, there is a need to address the safety of those on the ground. Currently, the FAA does not allow for unmanned aerial operations to occur over people. Clearly, this must change if drone use is to become part of everyday life.  

Bio-mechanics to the rescue

Virginia Tech’s injury bio-mechanics group teamed with its FAA-approved UAS test site to study the risks unmanned aircrafts pose to people. The injury bio-mechanics group has garnered much respect for their work evaluating injury risk within the automotive and sports industries. Areas studied, included: impact scenarios, potential injuries, design considerations to minimize injuries, operational limitations, and regulations to help prevent accidents. The team selected three popular commercial vehicles weighing from 2.6 to just over 24 pounds. In addition, the team setup a test dummy with sensors embedded inside the head and neck. The sensors measured the acceleration and force of the blows inflicted on the dummy. Then the team tested out various impact scenarios – head on and from above – and measured the force of those impacts. Standard benchmarks were applied to determine how likely the impacts were to cause severe, even life-threatening injuries. Of course, injury risk increased with the weight of the air vehicle. When dropped directly from above, the likelihood of the smallest craft causing severe neck injury was less than 10 percent. That risk rose to 70 percent with the largest craft. The drop tests tended to produce the most severe impacts. In deflection tests, the force and resulting injury were reduced. The study also found that drones which broke up upon impact, helped absorb some of the energy and reduced the force of the crash.  

Moving forward

The data gathered offers manufacturers insight as to how to design drones in a way that mitigates risk to those on the ground. It will also help inform future regulations of drone operations over people. These tests are just the beginning. There is a need to conduct more comprehensive tests. The team is already developing a broader set of controlled experiments to test the various ways drones and people interact. Read more about the Virginia Tech study.
By Industry News, , , , , Comments OffRead more...
19Sep

Refurbished Drones: considerations before you buy

Smart phones, game consoles, smart TVs...and now, drones. New technology is exciting but the cost of owning the latest gadgets prevent many from immediately running out and buying it. Many wait months before purchasing coveted products in the hopes that competition may eventually drive the price down. However, some savvy shoppers choose another path...refurbished products. From smartphones games consoles, refurbished electronics are a viable option for price-conscious consumers. Refurbished products offer consumers the chance to buy updated technology at a reduced price. However, when considering refurbished gadgets, a little due diligence is required.

An affordable way to keep pace

Technological innovation happens at a break-neck pace. Products are updated regularly and newer models are quickly made available. And, as manufacturers look to ever increase revenue, product cycles seem to get shorter and shorter. It is easy to see how consumers are out-matched. Refurbished products come from a variety of sources, including: ex-display items, items with slight defects from shipping, and previously owned items - to name a few. A refurbished product can have either some or all of its components replaced with newer ones. Some are done by the manufacturer. Others by private individuals or companies that specialize in the product line in question.  

Types of refurbished drones

Just like many other types of electronics, refurbished drones are the result of the consumerist economy we live in. Here’s a quick look at the aforementioned causes behind refurbished electronics and their advantages or drawbacks, if any:
  • Drones with Defects: Manufacturers take every precaution to ensure products reach the customer in full functioning condition. However, issues do arise from time to time. If a drone is found to have a defects it is usually returned to the manufacturer for repairs. In some cases purchasing a refurbished drone in this instance is an advantage. This is due to the detailed inspection, repairs and testing which are carried out by experienced and certified technicians.
  • Ex-Display Drones: Many retail shops display working prototypes so customers can examine and even demo the product. As such, demo drones are virtually new. Some stores make minor repairs to the item, if needed, and then offer it at a reduced priced. For those who don't mind a drone that's been handled a bit, it's an affordable option.
  • Shipping Damaged Drones: Getting the product from the factory to the end-user often involves transport via several carriers. As such, it is not unusual for some product to get damaged en route. When this occurs, the drone is sent back to the factory for repairs or resold as-is at a lower price.
  • Used Drones: Customers can change their mind and return a drone for numerous reasons, including: cost, a desire to upgrade, or personal preference. Such items are checked thoroughly before being offered for sale again, often at a lower price. This is a great way to own an almost-new drone at a fraction of the cost.
Many drone manufacturers offer refurbished drones. In many ways, it is a win-win. The manufacturer recaptures dollars they may have previously lost by refurbishing damaged goods and reselling them. And the consumer can upgrade their technology at a lower cost than buying new. These are items that are usually in an as-new condition and have been thoroughly checked before being re-listed for sale at a lower price. So while a refurbished drone is a viable alternative for anyone looking to buy a UAV is it a foolproof path to drone ownership? Perhaps but there are some considerations to remember before taking the plunge.  

Always purchase from reputable sellers

The best way to avoid pitfalls is to only purchase through reputable sellers. Some manufacturers offer refurbished products directly from their own retail stores or online shops. Another option is to find retailers who specialize in that product line. As such, they have the experience and expertise to ensure the drone is refurbished properly. In addition, major retailers such as eBay and Amazon specify whether a product is refurbished by the manufacturer or reconditioned by the seller.  

Consider purchasing a warranty

Another advantage of buying a refurbished drone from a reputable company is the option to purchase a warranty. A good warranty covers the most common repairs and the original issue.  

Check the return policy before buying

Before buying a refurbished drone, check to see if the retailer accepts returns for their refurbished line. Some do, some don't. Some consider it an as-is sale. So, it is buyer beware. Also, make note of the time period covered by the return policy.  

Inspect the drone

Finally, take the time to carefully inspect the drone. Check for any damage. Ensure the drone comes with all the accessories it should. Inspection is especially relevant to pre-used, open box and ex-display items where things like charging cables or instruction manuals could be missing. Of course, if buying a refurbished drone via an online reseller, a physical inspection is just not possible. That is why it is vital to ony purchase from reputable sellers.  

Refunds and buyer protection

Lastly, online payment providers such as PayPal and credit card companies often provide or extend buyer protections. This additional protection, helps in the event the consumer needs to claim a refund or file a dispute at a later date.   Thanks to the fast pace of innovation and the constant release of new products, the market for refurbished drones continues to expand. To minimize risk, follow the considerations above and begin the search for a great deal on a good quality refurbished drone.
By Industry News, , Comments OffRead more...
12Sep

Drone Inspections go nuclear with GPS and RADAR

AsteRx-m2 UASHigh-precision GPS receivers mounted on drones able to identify 1mm hairline defects in cooling towers  

Drones rise to the challenge

How do you inspect a structure that’s almost 160 m high and 120 m in diameter? With a few weeks to spare, a crash course in abseiling and a head for heights, a person could certainly give it a go. Imagine, however, that you need to collect enough data for a 3D model with the precision of 1 mm…all within a week. This was the challenge facing Aetos Drones. The company was tasked with inspecting a cooling tower at Tihange Nuclear Power Station near Liege in Belgium.  

Keeping reactors in top condition

The three reactors at the Tihange Power Station came online between 1975 and 1985. This makes the oldest of the three over 40 years old. Cooling towers built in this era have a life expectancy of 15-20 years. But, with careful maintenance, the lifetime can extend a further 20 years. The Tihange reactors contribute about 25% of all electricity generated in Belgium. The plan is to decommission the towers in 2025. Until then, the cooling towers need to be kept in good working order. Fortunately, drones equipped with highly precise and reliable GPS receivers can help.  

Corrosion and cooling towers

Pressurized Water Reactors, such as at Tihange, have cooling towers. These towers supply cold water to the condenser which works to cool the steam back into water. The steam drives the electricity-generating turbines. Cooling towers are elegantly simple in their operation. Warm water from the condenser sprays into the tower through a network of sprinklers, warming the surrounding air and causing it to rise. This in turn draws cooler air in through openings in the base of the tower maintaining a constant, natural draft of cool air through the tower. Corrosion is a possibility in any system where water plays a part. Cooling towers are hollow, thin-walled structures made from reinforced concrete. Over time, the humid environment can corrode the metal elements of the tower. In every cycle through the cooling tower, about 2% of the water evaporates forming the characteristic steam clouds. This increases the salt concentration in the remaining water which increases its corrosive power. In addition, high winds and winter icing can also cause damage and weaken the cooling tower.  

The inspection

Aetos Drones, were called in to carry out the inspections. And, Belgian's first certified drone pilot, Lieve Van Gijsel, took the helm. An octocopter fitted with a high-resolution camera, a RADAR system and an AsteRx-m UAS receiver conducted the inspection. The air vehicle took photographs at regular intervals as it traveled vertically up and down the sides of the cooling tower. The RADAR system was AIRobot’s Ranger, an add-on sensor specifically designed for distance detection on UAVs. The octocopter needed to get close enough to get quality images. However, the octocopter needed to maintain enough distance so as not to risk getting tossed around by the turbulence generated by the tower.  

Processing the images

Over the course of 4 days, more than 19,000 photographs of the cooling tower were taken. During the flight, the AsteRx-m UAS receiver logged GNSS measurements and the exact time each photograph was taken. After the flight, these shutter times and GNSS measurements were combined with GNSS measurements from a nearby base station using Septentrio’s GeoTagZ software. As such, each photograph was stamped with the cm-level precise RTK position of the camera – the ideal input for the next processing stage. After processing with GeoTagZ, the photographs were then uploaded to the photogrammetry software Agisoft PhotoScan. Over the course of several days, the photographs were stitched together to produce a highly-detailed 3D model of the cooling tower, precise to the level of 1 mm. Experts at Tihange then analyzed the surface of the cooling tower down to any required level of detail.  

Precise yes, but also reliable

3D inspection models with 1 mm resolution are made possible using high-quality, multi-frequency GNSS measurements from high-end receivers like the AsteRx-m. Not only does the positioning have to be precise, it has to be reliable. This requires: accurate error models, continuous tracking during mechanical jolts and advanced satellite integrity monitoring (RAIM). For large-structure inspections, such as this, multi-constellation positioning is essential to ensure there are always enough satellites available to work with. The receiver will also need a good multipath mitigation filter (APME) to disentangle direct and reflected satellite signals to avoid jumps in the calculated position.  

AsteRx-m2 UAS

The AsteRx-m UAS established itself as the receiver of choice for UAV applications requiring high-precision positioning. With the recent release of the  AsteRx-m2 UAS, drone inspections can take on applications at an entirely new level of difficulty. The AsteRx-m2 UAS adds BeiDou and Galileo as well as L5 frequency tracking. It also includes the AIM+ interference mitigation system. The additional constellations allow operation in areas where overhead structures limit the scope of single and dual-constellation receivers. Shop Septentrio's line of high accuracy receivers at Unmanned Systems Source.
By Vendor News, , , , , Comments OffRead more...