In a world where science fiction meets reality, Dr. Fu Zhang, Assistant Professor of Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, the University of Hong Kong (HKU), has developed a new technology that is poised to redefine the world of unpiloted aerial vehicles (UAVs). The Powered-flying Ultra-underactuated LiDAR-Sensing Aerial Robot (PULSAR) is a groundbreaking research that takes UAV technology to new heights.
The Breakthrough
The PULSAR, named after an astronomical pulsar’s self-rotation and scanning pattern, is a single actuator powered UAV with full onboard perception, mapping, planning, and control capabilities in both indoor and outdoor environments, all without requiring any external instruments. Through a series of experiments, Dr. Zhang’s team demonstrated PULSAR’s ability to detect static and dynamic obstacles in real-time, track complex trajectories, and navigate autonomously even in complete darkness. PULSAR’s robustness also extends to withstanding external wind disturbances, enabling safer and more stable flights in unpredictable conditions.
Besides its aforementioned capabilities, the sensor can also extend the field of view (FoV) through self-rotation motion, which enhances the UAV’s perception and task efficiency. Currently, there are two main approaches for extending the sensor FoV, but both of them consume a significant amount of power. The invention of PULSAR can save 26.7% of energy consumption compared to a quadrotor UAV with the same propeller disk area and payload, while still maintaining good agility. Thanks to its single actuator propulsion system, PULSAR experiences less energy conversion loss, resulting in a high flight efficiency of 6.65g/W.
The PULSAR is a small-sized drone with a diameter of only 37.6 cm and a battery capacity of just 41 Wh, yet it achieved a hover time of over 12 minutes. By removing the LiDAR sensor and installing a larger propeller and battery, the hover time of PULSAR can be extended to more than 40 minutes.
The research finding is presented in Science Robotics.
The Significance
UAVs are already playing an increasingly vital role in search and rescue, cave surveying, and architectural mapping. With the invention of PULSAR, UAV technology has been taken to new heights, as it boasts full onboard perception, mapping, planning, and control capabilities in both indoor and outdoor environments, all without requiring any external instruments. PULSAR’s robustness also extends to withstanding external wind disturbances, enabling safer and more stable flights in unpredictable conditions.
Dr. Zhang believes that the research platform established by his team could be conducive to further exploration of self-rotating UAVs. “We believe that it will facilitate the research of UAV control methods under high-speed rotation and simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) techniques under aggressive motion.”
Leave a Reply