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Testing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Missions in a Scaled Environment

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Abstract

UAV research generally follows a path from computer simulation and lab tests of individual components to full integrated testing in the field. Since realistic environments are difficult to simulate, its hard to predict how control algorithms will react to real world conditions such as varied lighting, weather, and obstacles like trees and wires. This paper introduces a methodic approach to developing UAV missions. A scaled down urban environment provides a facility to perform testing and evaluation (T&E) on control algorithms before flight. A UAV platform and test site allow the tuned control algorithms to be verified and validated (V&V) in real world flights. The resulting design methodology reduces risk in the development of UAV missions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Drexel Autonomous Systems Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Keith Sevcik & Paul Oh

Authors
  1. Keith Sevcik
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  2. Paul Oh
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Correspondence to Keith Sevcik.

Additional information

This work is funded in part by the National Science Foundation CAREER award IIS 0347430.

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Sevcik, K., Oh, P. Testing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Missions in a Scaled Environment . J Intell Robot Syst 54, 297–305 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10846-008-9267-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10846-008-9267-9

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