Outcome: A single system for multiple applications and to overcome the drawbacks of RC plane and copter in terms of control and speed of flight.
Description: RoboSee can be used as first responder and environment analyser where humans cannot involve, for example to analyse and report the environment conditions like temperature, pressure, humidity and radiation in tunnels, caves, monuments and disaster zones. As ambulance drone to measure patient’s vital signs and to assist aiding in emergency situation by carrying first aid kits and medicines. As conversation drone to identify, quantify and track animals and to alert hunting and poaching activities in wildlife habitats. Surveillance in military to alert on unusual and intruder activities, and in agriculture field to report the status of crops and to automate fertilisation. To virtually enable the bedridden people to explore their surroundings through video and audio. This project is the design and development of a suitable robot which has on board sensors for acquiring video, audio and physical parameters of the surroundings (include temperature, pressure, wind speed and characteristics) and extendable sensors for measurement of human body vital signs which are remotely monitored, controlled and can be used for further analysis. An autopilot and safety system is intended with obstacle avoidance and anti-collision, flight manoeuvre to minimize human interference. The flight of robot follows principle of tiltrotor, combining the benefits of a helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft into one aircraft which has better flight than RC plane and copter in terms of precision control and speed respectively. The body of the copter is built using the carbon fibre material which has light weight and better aerodynamics properties. The outputs of the infrared & ultrasonic range sensor, gyroscope, accelerometer and GPS receiver (determine obstacle distance, speed and flight stability) manipulate the inputs of rotors to implement a safe flight avoiding obstacles and collision. Barometric digital pressure sensor (BMP180) and capacitive-type humidity/temperature sensor (DHTT22) are outfitted on board to measure the environmental parameters like atmospheric pressure, wind speed, relative humidity and temperature. Precision centigrade temperature sensor (LM35), photoplethysmography sensor (XD53) and MEMS microphone to measure human body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate. Visual and audile system is developed with high quality image acquiring webcam and microphone. Using Image (object, shape or pattern) recognition in NI LabVIEW Vision and Motion, the system is trained well by adding images of target objects, animals and beings to the database called as character set file, based on the application. The robot is made stand-alone by myRIO-1900, an embedded system with Linux RT OS and FGPA (Field-programmable gate arrays). FPGAs are reprogrammable silicon chips, combine the best parts of Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) and processor-based systems. FPGAs provide hardware-timed speed, reliability and do not require high volume expenses of custom ASIC design. Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL or HWIL) simulation, using LabVIEW provides an effective platform by reducing the complexity of the plant under control to the test platform making the embedded system to be interact able with the plant simulation and real time. User interface to system is made through the server and client (Internet) VIs (Virtual Instrument) of personal computers. Portable monitoring and control of the parameters using Data Dashboard for LabVIEW through smartphones and tablets. This robot can be upgraded to be controlled by using voice commands and neurological signals. Multiple robots can do complex works cooperatively and withstand damages.
