ArTuga

Problem Addressed

Self-outdoor localization of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) lacks accuracy, particularly, close to large structures (GPS-Denied), close to metal structures (affecting compass accuracy), or under extreme weather or day/night conditions, impacting its self-navigation.  

Current perception systems such as LiDAR, visual or thermographic cameras, and radar fail under difficult environmental conditions (e.g., fog, glare, or darkness), impairing the effective autonomation of UAVs. Hence, accurate and precise navigation and perception systems are critical towards the full development of autonomous aerial drones and to mitigate air and ground risks. 

Technology

Our solution is ArTuga (Augmented Reality Tag for Unmaned vison-Guided Aircraft), a new heterogeneous perception and navigation system. ArTuga uses a multimodal fiducial marker (entailing a retroreflective and visual pattern, and a heat pattern to detect target locations), combined with a real-time multimodal fusion technique that ensures a robust and reliable detection of the target in severe environments. 

This solution improves the situational awareness of the vehicles, increasing its detection capabilities and navigational abilities, especially in challenging lighting and weather conditions. Consequently, contributes to further effective autonomation of UAVs.

Advantages

Drone Precise positioning – enables the vehicle to hover over the desired target and complete its task even in adverse conditions;  

Drone Precise navigation – GPS independent system where the target is identified at a distance of ~15 m;

Precision and reliable landing/docking - even in adverse conditions and on moving objects; 

Mitigate ground risk - able to perform the landing maneuver without compromising its own safety and the integrity of its surroundings;  

Add-on perception and navigation system with real-time localization even under harsh environmental conditions; 

Dual charging strategy - works with battery or power supply (from the Grid or PV pannels); 

Customizable – particularly the pattern, and size of the fiducial marker.

Possible Applications

• Offshore inspection operations (wind farms, oil&gas platforms, others); 
• Offshore disaster assessment suport/Search and rescue; 
• Commercial delivery (logistics/ emergency delivery).