Design and Development of Bat-Inspired Unmanned Aerial System for Mapping and Navigation
Disciplines
Navigation, Guidance, Control and Dynamics | Structures and Materials | Systems Engineering and Multidisciplinary Design Optimization
Abstract (300 words maximum)
The goal of this project is to develop a sonar-based Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) that mimics bat behavior using ultrasonic waves and reflections to form a spatial map to navigate and avoid obstacles. While using a quadcopter design, two overlapping carbon fiber plates make up the center frame, and four booms extend from its corners to hold the propulsion system. The foremost compartment resembles the head of a Grey Long-Eared Bat, which houses a 400EP125-NBWN speaker in the mouth to emit ultrasonic pulses, which are reflected and detected by two SO.2 Ultrasonic Omni Lapel Lav Microphones placed inside the bat ears, to facilitate the mapping and navigating. The microphones connect to a microcontroller for signal processing through an ADC if needed, and the speaker is controlled with PWM and an amplifier. Custom 3D-printed components, printed using a Stratasys F170 FDM printer, include ESC housings, a modular battery box, a sliding door mechanism, and the bat-shaped head and ears. These components were designed in SolidWorks and ensure compatibility with the UAS while utilizing modularity, reducing weight, and minimizing drag. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) was performed to simulate stress distribution and strength of 3D-printed components under operational loads. After integrating flight-critical electronics, the UAS successfully flew a hover test at five feet, performing controlled roll, pitch, and yaw movements, successfully executing 90-degree and 180-degree turns, forward-backward, and side-to-side transitions. The UAS experienced minimal drift, smooth response times, and a controlled landing. The total flight was approximately one minute, but further testing is needed to ensure that the UAs complies with every design requirement.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
SPCEET - Industrial and Systems Engineering
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Adeel Khalid
Design and Development of Bat-Inspired Unmanned Aerial System for Mapping and Navigation
The goal of this project is to develop a sonar-based Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) that mimics bat behavior using ultrasonic waves and reflections to form a spatial map to navigate and avoid obstacles. While using a quadcopter design, two overlapping carbon fiber plates make up the center frame, and four booms extend from its corners to hold the propulsion system. The foremost compartment resembles the head of a Grey Long-Eared Bat, which houses a 400EP125-NBWN speaker in the mouth to emit ultrasonic pulses, which are reflected and detected by two SO.2 Ultrasonic Omni Lapel Lav Microphones placed inside the bat ears, to facilitate the mapping and navigating. The microphones connect to a microcontroller for signal processing through an ADC if needed, and the speaker is controlled with PWM and an amplifier. Custom 3D-printed components, printed using a Stratasys F170 FDM printer, include ESC housings, a modular battery box, a sliding door mechanism, and the bat-shaped head and ears. These components were designed in SolidWorks and ensure compatibility with the UAS while utilizing modularity, reducing weight, and minimizing drag. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) was performed to simulate stress distribution and strength of 3D-printed components under operational loads. After integrating flight-critical electronics, the UAS successfully flew a hover test at five feet, performing controlled roll, pitch, and yaw movements, successfully executing 90-degree and 180-degree turns, forward-backward, and side-to-side transitions. The UAS experienced minimal drift, smooth response times, and a controlled landing. The total flight was approximately one minute, but further testing is needed to ensure that the UAs complies with every design requirement.