• Journal of the Korean Society of Surveying, Geodesy, Photogrammetry and Cartography
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.223-235
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• 2020

In this study, we propose an approach for calibrating the elevation of a DEM (Digital Elevation Model), one of the key data in realizing unmanned aerial vehicle image-based precision agriculture. First of all, radiometric correction is performed on the orthophoto, and then ExG (Excess Green) is generated. The non-vegetation area is extracted based on the threshold value estimated by applying the Otsu method to ExG. Subsequently, the elevation of the DEM corresponding to the location of the non-vegetation area is extracted as EIFs (Elevation Invariant Features), which is data for elevation correction. The normalized Z-score is estimated based on the difference between the extracted EIFs to eliminate the outliers. Then, by constructing a linear regression model and correcting the elevation of the DEM, high-quality DEM is produced without GCPs (Ground Control Points). To verify the proposed method using a total of 10 DEMs, the maximum/minimum value, average/standard deviation before and after elevation correction were compared and analyzed. In addition, as a result of estimating the RMSE (Root Mean Square Error) by selecting the checkpoints, an average RMSE was derivsed as 0.35m. Comprehensively, it was confirmed that a high-quality DEM could be produced without GCPs.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.2689-2708
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• 2016

Multi-camera systems which integrate two or more low-cost digital cameras are adopted to reach higher ground coverage and improve the base-height ratio in low altitude remote sensing. To guarantee accurate multi-camera integration, the geometric relationship among cameras must be determined through platform calibration techniques. This paper proposed a combined two-step platform calibration method. In the first step, the static platform calibration was conducted based on the stable relative orientation constraint and convergent conditions among cameras in static environments. In the second step, a dynamic platform self-calibration approach was proposed based on not only tie points but also straight lines in order to correct the small change of the relative relationship among cameras during dynamic flight. Experiments based on the proposed two-step platform calibration method were carried out with terrestrial and aerial images from a multi-camera system combined with four consumer-grade digital cameras onboard an unmanned aerial vehicle. The experimental results have shown that the proposed platform calibration approach is able to compensate the varied relative relationship during flight, acquiring the mosaicing accuracy of virtual images smaller than 0.5pixel. The proposed approach can be extended for calibrating other low-cost multi-camera system without rigorously mechanical structure.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.499-508
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• 2016

This paper describes a study of performance prediction of an electric propulsion system for multirotor UAVs. The electric propulsion system consists of motors, propellers, batteries and speed controllers, and significantly affects performance characteristics of the platform. The performance of the electric propulsion system for multirotor UAVs was predicted using an analytical model derived from the characteristics of each component, operation experiments and statistical analyses. Ground performance tests and endurance flights were performed to verify the reliability of the proposed performance prediction method. A quadrotor platform was designed to demonstrate the parcel delivery service used in the endurance flight. From the result of verification tests, it was confirmed that the proposed method has a good agreement.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Systems Engineering
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.13-19
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• 2011

A LRT(Light Rail Transit) is one of the Future Urban Railway Development Project. The project's goal is to reduce a transportation congestion in the center of the city. New transportation is intensely required in order to overcome a limit of the ground transportation that is the existing public transportation, A LRT(Light Rail Transit) construction project to be based on an unmanned driving system is the large composition system that a vehicle, a signal, communication, electric, track etc. were organically integrated as echo-friendly urban transportation systems. It also put a huge budget, which is a large-scale infrastructure projects. It is international trend that Light Rail Transit projects apply a technique in System Engineering for a schedule, cost, quality elevations, and to approach in viewpoints of life-cycle from initial construction steps to operation, abolition. This paper intends to analyze RAM requirements taking into consideration ISO/IEC 15288 throughout life-cycle from concept, design, manufacture, operation and maintenance to the final phase, decommissioning, and the study seeks to suggest directions of efficient use to domestic LRT projects.

• Journal of Korean Society for Geospatial Information Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.3-8
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• 2016

Due to the recent technical development and the enhancement of image resolution, Unmanned Airborne Vehicles(UAVs) have been used for various fields. A low altitude UAV system takes advantage of taking riverbed imagery at small rivers as well as land surface imagery on the ground. The bathymetric data are generated from the low altitude UAV system. The accuracy of the data is analyzed along water depths, comparing GPS observations and a DSM generated from UAV images. It is found that the depth accuracy of the geospatial data below 50 cm depth of water satisfies the regulation(${\pm}10cm$ spatial accuracy) of bathymetric surveying. Therefore this research shows that the geospatial data generated from UAV images at shallow regions of rivers can be used for bathymetric surveying.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.316-323
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• 2016

A UAV(Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) flies along pre-programed navigation points(in-flight, take-off, or landing) automatically without pilot input. Even though UAVs fly differently from general piloted aircraft as the pilot controls the aircraft from a ground station through means of a data-link system. Occasionally, the data-link connection can be lost for any number of reasons, in which case, the FLCC(Flight control Computer) must automatically switch to autopilot to continue flying. Hence, the FLCC is a flight-critical component that must be throughly tested and validated. This paper discusses the development of a HILS(Hardware in the Loop Simulation) test environment designed to simulate real flight conditions to verify the FLCC satisfies flying quality requirements and maintains robustness despite any potential malfunctions or emergency situations.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.506-512
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• 2018

Unmanned aerial vehicles(UAVs) operating in the military for various purposes are designed to transmit information collected according to the purpose to GCS(Ground Control System), and to transmit/receive the vehicle's operational control and status information using wireless communication(or datalink). Currently, the military UAV systems in operation in Korea use unique communication methods, protocols, and message structures for each system. Among these, the Division UAV is designed to transmit fixed size TM/TC data repeatedly and the Corps UAV is designed to transmit aperiodic TM/TC data to the variable length of the message-based. In this paper, we analyze the TM/TC data protocol of existing military UAV systems and present data protocol design method which is considered to be more efficient in wireless communication environment applied to equipment under development. And we will discuss issues to be considered for standardization of technology for ensuring interoperability with many UAVs or newly introduced UAV systems.

• The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.225-285
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• 2017

In regard to the regulations related to the RPA(Remotely Piloted Aircraft), which is sometimes called in other countries as UA(Unmanned Aircraft), ICAO stipulates the regulations in the 'RPAS manual (2015)' in detail based on the 'Chicago Convention' in 1944, and enacts provisions for the Rules of UAS or RPAS. Other contries stipulates them such as the Federal Airline Rules (14 CFR), Public Law (112-95) in the United States, the Air Transport Act, Air Transport Order, Air Transport Authorization Order (through revision in "Regulations to operating Rules on unmanned aerial System") based on EASA Regulation (EC) No.216/2008 in the case of unmanned aircaft under 150kg in Germany, and Civil Aviation Act (CAA 1998), Civil Aviation Act 101 (CASR Part 101) in Australia. Commonly, these laws exclude the model aircraft for leisure purpose and require pilots on the ground, not onboard aricraft, capable of controlling RPA. The laws also require that all managements necessary to operate RPA and pilots safely and efficiently under the structure of the unmanned aircraft system within the scope of the regulations. Each country classifies the RPA as an aircraft less than 25kg. Australia and Germany further break down the RPA at a lower weight. ICAO stipulates all general aviation operations, including commercial operation, in accordance with Annex 6 of the Chicago Convention, and it also applies to RPAs operations. However, passenger transportation using RPAs is excluded. If the operational scope of the RPAs includes the airspace of another country, the special permission of the relevant country shall be required 7 days before the flight date with detail flight plan submitted. In accordance with Federal Aviation Regulation 107 in the United States, a small non-leisure RPA may be operated within line-of-sight of a responsible navigator or observer during the day in the speed range up to 161 km/hr (87 knots) and to the height up to 122 m (400 ft) from surface or water. RPA must yield flight path to other aircraft, and is prohibited to load dangerous materials or to operate more than two RPAs at the same time. In Germany, the regulations on UAS except for leisure and sports provide duty to avoidance of airborne collisions and other provisions related to ground safety and individual privacy. Although commercial UAS of 5 kg or less can be freely operated without approval by relaxing the existing regulatory requirements, all the UAS regardless of the weight must be operated below an altitude of 100 meters with continuous monitoring and pilot control. Australia was the first country to regulate unmanned aircraft in 2001, and its regulations have impacts on the unmanned aircraft laws of ICAO, FAA, and EASA. In order to improve the utiliity of unmanned aircraft which is considered to be low risk, the regulation conditions were relaxed through the revision in 2016 by adding the concept "Excluded RPA". In the case of excluded RPA, it can be operated without special permission even for commercial purpose. Furthermore, disscussions on a new standard manual is being conducted for further flexibility of the current regulations.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2012

Obstacle detection is much studied by using sensors such as laser, vision, radar and ultrasonic in path planning for UGV(Unmanned Ground Vehicle), but not much reported about its characterization. In this paper not only an obstacle classification method using 2-dimensional LMS(Laser Measurement System) but also a decision making method whether to avoid or traverse the obstacle is proposed. The basic idea of decision making is to classify the characteristics by 2D laser scanned data and intensity data. Roughness features are obtained by range data using a simple linear regression model. The standard deviations of roughness and intensity data are used as measures for decision making by comparing with those of reference data. The obstacle classification and decision making for the UGV can facilitate a short path to the target position and the survivability of the robot.

• Aerospace Engineering and Technology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.236-244
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• 2007

The 40% scaled vehicle of Smart UAV has been developed for the investigation of basic flight characteristics and the verification of flight control algorithm. The similar gimbal hub and drive train with the full scale UAV were implemented and a forced air cooling reciprocating engine was installed. The various kind of tests were conducted for the major components of the vehicle. The important performance and mechanical endurance of the fabricated vehicle were identified by ground and hovering test.