Autonomous Technology

Finally, autonomy is an important element in the development of modern UAVs. An autonomous UAV would be mostly independent of outside control. Most contemporary unmanned crafts “combine remote control and computerized automation” however some “sophisticated versions may have built-in control and/or guidance systems to perform low-level human pilot duties such as speed and flight-path stabilization, and simple scripted navigation functions such as waypoint following” (Schneider, 2011, p. 2). According to Schneider (2011), some important technologies associated with autonomy include sensor fusion, and automated takeoff and landing.
Sensor fusion involves the information collected for navigation, gyroscopes, and “heterogeneous sensors for environment perception such as visual and infrared cameras” (Ollero and Maza, 2007, p. 210). These sensors are “geometrically calibrated” and use “GPS…and pan and tilt encoders” in order to “geolocate objects on the image plane by projecting them over a known elevation map” (Ollero and Maza, 2007, p. 210). All sensors on the UAV are connected to the vehicles central processing unit (CPU) which “executes all programs for control purposes, sensor data acquisition and calculations” (Ollero and Maza, 2007, p. 118). In order for the UAV to fly autonomously, the “microcontroller needs information about the current position and…altitude” (Ollero and Maza, 2007, p. 118). This technology is being expanded further by companies such as Prioria Robotics, which is developing UAVs that “autonomously use video to steer around objects,” a prerequisite for flying in civilian airspace” (Schneider, 2011, p.3). Tightly related to sensor fusion is the automated technology that has been displayed in UAVs such as the Shadow. In 2001, “special radio equipment” was added to this 3.4 meter long craft in order to enable automated landings (Schneider, 2011, p. 3). This capability ensures a secure landing and removes the possibility of human error.