VTOL Drone Prototype for Sony’s Enterprise Solutions
Sony’s camera, sensing, telecommunications network, and robotics technologies will be leveraged alongside ZMP’s automated driving and robotics technologies together with their business experience in industrial fields.
- Aerosense Inc. will combine these assets and develop comprehensive solutions that meet needs including measuring, surveying, observing, and inspecting.
- It will aim to roll out these services for enterprise customers beginning in 2016.
This is an update to the previous blog, Sony’s Camera, Sensing, Telecommunications Network & Robotics Technologies + ZMP’s Automated Driving & Robotics Technologies: Aerosense Inc.(August 2015) for the Development, Manufacture & Sale of Enterprise Solutions Using Autonomous Drones for Image Capture Combined with Cloud-based Data Processing in 2016.
The following video presents VTOL Flight 20150715
Flight experiment of VTOL by Aerosense Inc.
Taking off vertically, Hovering, Fly fast Stop on the Air, and Landing vertically.
The text below is a Google translation of the Japanese text at http://www.aerosense.co.jp/services:
Workflow
Automatic surveying
Aerosense of surveying is a low-cost compared to the aerial survey , it is capable of shooting with automatic flight . So this was to difficult, will also be possible to survey every day in the same flight path repeatedly.
Setting the flight path
Image Courtesy of AeroSense
Set the optimal flight path to a subject in surveying . Automatically generated only flight path to click . Flying what route at any speed , whether may be divided into a number of times of flight , and then automatically calculated in accordance with the continuous flight possible time of the image sensor and aircraft use.
Flight
Image Courtesy of AeroSense
To fly the set route , you can take a picture at the optimum timing . Flying and shooting automatically performs you since the operation is not required . Once you set the flight route , for example, it is also possible to fly the same route every day . During the flight you will be able to monitor the flight situation in the web .
Upload
Image Courtesy of AeroSense
It will upload a large number of images that have been recorded in the camera to the cloud . Since Sony is using the close proximity wireless transfer technology TransferJet ™ developed , OK with only close to the terminal . Transferred image data is uploaded automatically to the cloud .
Analysis of the data
From the captured image , it is possible to generate various data . For example, you can create a three-dimensional topographic map from multiple photos . Using the three-dimensional topographic map data , progress check and construction , such as the work before the terrain confirmation can be easily , leading to operational efficiency. AeroSense of drone will automatically take a picture in a way that is suitable for the production of these data . Also By using a measuring machine than the camera to the subject you want to survey , it is also possible to generate an optimal data to your business.
Calculate point cloud data from the photo data
Image Courtesy of AeroSense
The three -dimensional position of an arbitrary point on the image is calculated from a plurality of images , and restore the terrain as a set of points .
Generation of surface and image
Image Courtesy of AeroSense
You can restore undulating as to generate a surface from point cloud . In addition , it will create a two-dimensional map image that connected the image that bird’s-eye view of the ground called ortho image from directly above . 3 -dimensional topographic map will be completed by attaching it to the relief of the terrain.
The use of the data in the cloud
It provides cloud services to take advantage of the result of surveying and analysis . Because it is an online service that can be accessed from a Web browser , without being dependent on the specific terminal and the environment , anytime , anywhere you can use the data .
Available in multiple projects
Image Courtesy of AeroSense
It is possible to manage separately the data for each project , offers simultaneous use in multiple projects.
Image Courtesy of AeroSense
Use of the captured image
Simple and using a high-speed photo viewer , you can view the captured image . Since the uploaded images will be reflected in the viewer in real time , you can use the photos taken immediately .
Use of a two-dimensional map image
Image Courtesy of AeroSense
The images taken from the air is normalized , are available two -dimensional map image generated by connecting the one. Since the position can freely change the you want to see , it will be able to easily grasp of the field.
Of the three-dimensional map data available
Image Courtesy of AeroSense
The resulting three-dimensional map data that was available . Because will follow in real time the operation of the mouse , operations such as rotation and expansion freely . You can verify the data from various angles .
Use of flight log
Image Courtesy of AeroSense
Check the flight log , you can check the validity of the flight . Also , since it can also display the flight position in real time , without at the scene , it is possible to determine drone is flying correctly.
The above drone prototype that will be used by Sony has the following general specifications (as translated by Google):
AS-DT01-E ( experimental machine )
Airframe weight
5Kg (* 7Kg by including battery )
Size
2200 × 1600 × 600mm
Flight speed ( target specification )
~170Km / HTime-of-flight (target specification)
2 hours or moreMaximum load capacity (target specification)
~10Kg