@inproceedings{AliMontenegro2015, author = {Ali, Qasim and Montenegro, Sergio}, title = {A Simple Approach to Quadrocopter Formation Flying Test Setup for Education and Development}, series = {INTED2015 Proceedings}, booktitle = {INTED2015 Proceedings}, publisher = {International Academy of Technology, Education and Development (IATED)}, isbn = {978-84-606-5763-7}, issn = {2340-1079}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-114495}, pages = {2776 -- 2784}, year = {2015}, abstract = {A simple test setup has been developed at Institute of Aerospace Information Technology, University of W{\"u}rzburg, Germany to realize basic functionalities for formation flight of quadrocopters. The test environment is planned to be utilized for developing and validating the algorithms for formation flying capability in real environment as well as for education purpose. An already existing test bed for single quadrocopter was extended with necessary inter-communication and distributed control mechanism to test the algorithms for formation flights in 2 degrees of freedom (roll / pitch). This study encompasses the domain of communication, control engineering and embedded systems programming. Bluetooth protocol has been used for inter-communication between two quadrocopters. A simple approach of PID control in combination with Kalman filter has been exploited. MATLAB Instrument Control Toolbox has been used for data display, plotting and analysis. Plots can be drawn in real-time and received information can also be stored in the form of files for later use and analysis. The test setup has been developed indigenously and at considerably low cost. Emphasis has been placed on simplicity to facilitate students learning process. Several lessons have been learnt during the course of development of this setup. Proposed setup is quite flexible that can be modified as per changing requirements.}, subject = {Flugk{\"o}rper}, language = {en} } @article{GageikReinthalBenzetal.2014, author = {Gageik, Nils and Reinthal, Eric and Benz, Paul and Montenegro, Sergio}, title = {Complementary Vision based Data Fusion for Robust Positioning and Directed Flight of an Autonomous Quadrocopter}, doi = {10.5121/ijaia.2014.5501}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-113621}, year = {2014}, abstract = {The present paper describes an improved 4 DOF (x/y/z/yaw) vision based positioning solution for fully 6 DOF autonomous UAVs, optimised in terms of computation and development costs as well as robustness and performance. The positioning system combines Fourier transform-based image registration (Fourier Tracking) and differential optical flow computation to overcome the drawbacks of a single approach. The first method is capable of recognizing movement in four degree of freedom under variable lighting conditions, but suffers from low sample rate and high computational costs. Differential optical flow computation, on the other hand, enables a very high sample rate to gain control robustness. This method, however, is limited to translational movement only and performs poor in bad lighting conditions. A reliable positioning system for autonomous flights with free heading is obtained by fusing both techniques. Although the vision system can measure the variable altitude during flight, infrared and ultrasonic sensors are used for robustness. This work is part of the AQopterI8 project, which aims to develop an autonomous flying quadrocopter for indoor application and makes autonomous directed flight possible.}, language = {en} } @article{AliMontenegro2014, author = {Ali, Quasim and Montenegro, Sergio}, title = {A Matlab Implementation of Differential GPS for Low-cost GPS Receivers}, doi = {10.12716/1001.08.03.03}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-113618}, year = {2014}, abstract = {A number of public codes exist for GPS positioning and baseline determination in off-line mode. However, no software code exists for DGPS exploiting correction factors at base stations, without relying on double difference information. In order to accomplish it, a methodology is introduced in MATLAB environment for DGPS using C/A pseudoranges on single frequency L1 only to make it feasible for low-cost GPS receivers. Our base station is at accurately surveyed reference point. Pseudoranges and geometric ranges are compared at base station to compute the correction factors. These correction factors are then handed over to rover for all valid satellites observed during an epoch. The rover takes it into account for its own true position determination for corresponding epoch. In order to validate the proposed algorithm, our rover is also placed at a pre-determined location. The proposed code is an appropriate and simple to use tool for post-processing of GPS raw data for accurate position determination of a rover e.g. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle during post-mission analysis.}, language = {en} } @article{MontenegroAliGageik2014, author = {Montenegro, Sergio and Ali, Qasim and Gageik, Nils}, title = {A review on Distributed Control of Cooperating MINI UAVs}, doi = {10.5121/ijaia.2014.5401}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-113009}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Mini Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (MUAVs) are becoming popular research platform and drawing considerable attention, particularly during the last decade due to their multi-dimensional applications in almost every walk of life. MUAVs range from simple toys found at electronic supermarkets for entertainment purpose to highly sophisticated commercial platforms performing novel assignments like offshore wind power station inspection and 3D modelling of buildings. This paper presents an overview of the main aspects in the domain of distributed control of cooperating MUAVs to facilitate the potential users in this fascinating field. Furthermore it gives an overview on state of the art in MUAV technologies e.g. Photonic Mixer Devices (PMD) camera, distributed control methods and on-going work and challenges, which is the motivation for many researchers all over the world to work in this field.}, language = {en} } @article{GageikStrohmeierMontenegro2013, author = {Gageik, Nils and Strohmeier, Michael and Montenegro, Sergio}, title = {Waypoint flight parameter comparison of an autonomous UAV}, series = {International Journal of Artificial Intelligence \& Applications (IJAIA)}, journal = {International Journal of Artificial Intelligence \& Applications (IJAIA)}, doi = {10.5121/ijaia.2013.4304}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-96833}, year = {2013}, abstract = {The present paper compares the effect of different waypoint parameters on the flight performance of a special autonomous indoor UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) fusing ultrasonic, inertial, pressure and optical sensors for 3D positioning and controlling. The investigated parameters are the acceptance threshold for reaching a waypoint as well as the maximal waypoint step size or block size. The effect of these parameters on the flight time and accuracy of the flight path is investigated. Therefore the paper addresses how the acceptance threshold and step size influence the speed and accuracy of the autonomous flight and thus influence the performance of the presented autonomous quadrocopter under real indoor navigation circumstances. Furthermore the paper demonstrates a drawback of the standard potential field method for navigation of such autonomous quadrocopters and points to an improvement.}, language = {en} } @article{GageikStrohmeierMontenegro2013, author = {Gageik, Nils and Strohmeier, Michael and Montenegro, Sergio}, title = {An Autonomous UAV with an Optical Flow Sensor for Positioning and Navigation}, series = {International Journal of Advanced Robotic Systems}, journal = {International Journal of Advanced Robotic Systems}, doi = {10.5772/56813}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-96368}, year = {2013}, abstract = {A procedure to control all six DOF (degrees of freedom) of a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) without an external reference system and to enable fully autonomous flight is presented here. For 2D positioning the principle of optical flow is used. Together with the output of height estimation, fusing ultrasonic, infrared and inertial and pressure sensor data, the 3D position of the UAV can be computed, controlled and steered. All data processing is done on the UAV. An external computer with a pathway planning interface is for commanding purposes only. The presented system is part of the AQopterI8 project, which aims to develop an autonomous flying quadrocopter for indoor application. The focus of this paper is 2D positioning using an optical flow sensor. As a result of the performed evaluation, it can be concluded that for position hold, the standard deviation of the position error is 10cm and after landing the position error is about 30cm.}, language = {en} } @article{MontenegroDannemann2011, author = {Montenegro, Sergio and Dannemann, Frank}, title = {Experiences and Best Practice Requirements Engineering for Small Satellites}, series = {Computing Science and Technology International Journal}, volume = {1}, journal = {Computing Science and Technology International Journal}, number = {2}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-153307}, year = {2011}, abstract = {The design and implementation of a satellite mission is divided into several different phases. Parallel to these phases an evolution of requirements will take place. Because so many people in different locations and from different background have to work in different subsystems concurrently the ideas and concepts of different subsystems and different locations will diverge. We have to bring them together again. To do this we introduce synchronization points. We bring representatives from all subsystems and all location in a Concurrent Engineering Facility (CEF) room together. Between CEF sessions the different subsystems will diverge again, but each time the diversion will be smaller. Our subjective experience from test projects says this CEF sessions are most effective in the first phases of the development, from Requirements engineering until first coarse design. After Design and the concepts are fix, the developers are going to implementation and the concept divergences will be much smaller, therefore the CEF sessions are not a very big help any more.}, language = {en} }