Vision-based autopilot for mini-drones (Feasibility Study)

• Unité de recherche: INNOSUISSE
• Numéro de projet: 11116.1;6 PFNM-NM
• Titre du projet anglais: Vision-based autopilot for mini-drones (Feasibility Study)

Description succincte (Anglais)

Vision-based autopilot for mini-drones (Feasibility Study)

Description succincte (Français)

Vision-based autopilot for mini-drones (Feasibility Study)

Résumé des résultats (Abstract) (Anglais)

This project aims at implementing and testing a novel autopilot for mini-drones to enable them to fly autonomously in cluttered environments by actively avoiding collisions with obstacles such as buildings. The basis of this project is a patent-pending technology recently developed at EPFL, which takes inspiration from flying insects to devise an efficient vision-based control strategy that maps visual signals (optic flow) into commands in real-time. However, the current research prototype works only with natural obstacles. This feasibility study aims at assessing the use of a CSEM vision chip to improve signal quality and enable flight in man-made environments, which would significantly increase its commercial potential.

Résumé des résultats (Abstract) (Français)

This project aims at implementing and testing a novel autopilot for mini-drones to enable them to fly autonomously in cluttered environments by actively avoiding collisions with obstacles such as buildings. The basis of this project is a patent-pending technology recently developed at EPFL, which takes inspiration from flying insects to devise an efficient vision-based control strategy that maps visual signals (optic flow) into commands in real-time. However, the current research prototype works only with natural obstacles. This feasibility study aims at assessing the use of a CSEM vision chip to improve signal quality and enable flight in man-made environments, which would significantly increase its commercial potential.