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Coming to the end of a pivotal year for the unmanned industry, Unmanned Systems Technology looks back on a 2024 filled to the brim with new developments and instructional articles from the unmanned sector.
Below we showcase our top five most read feature articles in 2024. From trusted industry leaders these insight pieces delve into a range of topics, from the rapidly developing role of underwater autonomy and unmanned surface vehicles, to making informed selections of drone batteries or antenna technology. UST feature articles provide our readers with informative insights from the unmanned sector and the systems and technologies that are driving it forward.
Whitepaper: Exploring Shipwrecks with Autonomous Underwater Drones
Advanced Navigation‘s feature article highlights the effectiveness of its Hydrus technology, a an autonomous underwater drone that can accurately capture data and coordinates of a shipwreck.
The article describes Hydrus showcasing its capabilities in a mission exploring the Rottnest ship graveyard off the coast of Western Australia, with the objective being to pinpoint the exact location of an unidentified shipwreck and capture detailed imagery for the creation of a digital twin. On this mission, Advanced Navigation aimed to determine the wreck site parameters, carry out detailed site scanning, and complete a complementary survey for data.
The data collected enabled the generation of high-fidelity 3D photogrammetry models, providing a detailed examination of the shipwreck within its ecological context and offering insights into its history. The study also showcases the versatility of Hydrus across various applications, including geohazard surveys and site investigations.
How to Choose a Drone Battery
In an informational feature article from T-DRONES, the company discussed the aspects to consider when buying a drone battery, including tips on size and weight, voltage, and capacity.
T-DRONES outlines that it is important to know how to choose the most suitable battery, particularly to achieve optimal flight time and performance. This guide can help users select the right battery for their drone, advising on the primary features of size and weight, capacity, and voltage.
The guide also looks into discharge rate, connectors, and brand in impressive detail, also outlining how the T-DRONES ARES battery might be a perfect fit for a client’s UAV as this new type of solid-state lithium-ion battery is specifically designed for drones, featuring high energy density, small size and lightweight, and up to 300+ charge cycles.
Types of Antennas and Their Applications
Another informational feature article comes from Maxtena, diving into what antennas are and the science behind how they work, along with why they are used for certain applications.
It explains that antennas are devices designed to transmit (Tx antenna) or receive (Rx antenna) electromagnetic waves, acting as a bridge between free space and a guiding device like a coaxial line or waveguide. Maxtena itself delivers high-performance GNSS, SATCOM, LTE, and Wi-Fi antennas for unmanned systems. These guiding devices are responsible for transporting electromagnetic energy between the antenna and the transmitting source or receiver.
Going into further detail, antennas convert electrical signals to electromagnetic waves for transmission and convert received electromagnetic waves back into electrical currents. This makes them fundamental in applications such as broadcasting, Wi-Fi, radar, and satellite communication. The design and type of antenna depend on specific communication requirements and the frequency ranges they are meant to handle.
Precision Shrub Counting with Drone LiDAR Imaging
Inspired Flight, a provider of multirotor drones, released a feature article in which they utilized the YellowScan Mapper and Mapper+ LiDAR systems to determine the number of shrubs present at a specific site during an environmental monitoring study.
The Mapper+ with Camera Module and Mapper systems were incorporated, along with their specific flight configurations, onboard the Inspired Flight IF1200A drone for the study. In the field of environmental monitoring and analysis, the precise evaluation of vegetation is essential for gaining a comprehensive understanding of ecosystems.
The introduction of drones outfitted with cutting-edge imaging systems has significantly transformed this process, enabling more efficient and accurate data collection. Accurate ground topography data is crucial for understanding terrain variations, water flow patterns, and landscape characteristics. Traditional ground survey methods can be labor-intensive and may not effectively cover large or hard-to-reach areas.
Bespoke Control Solution for Wind & Wave Propelled USVs
Producers of control systems for surface & subsea vessels, Dynautics discusses how the company combines control parameters to suit vessel and mission requirements, delving into its cutting-edge technology for wind and wave powered craft.
Wave-powered unmanned surface vessels (USVs) such as those manufactured by AutoNaut can operate for several weeks, and cover thousands of miles from shore without the need for batteries or fuel for propulsion. The company asserts that utilizing wave energy for propulsion also enables zero carbon emissions.
Dynautics has developed a bespoke ‘power generation controller‘ for AutoNaut’s wave-powered USVs. This system manages battery charging from photovoltaic panels and supplies power to instruments and communication systems. It features remotely monitored and resettable circuit breakers that quickly protect the system in the event of an overload in any circuit. The entire control system uses highly efficient, low-power processor boards to optimize solar energy utilization.
