Research Log

Adaptive Control Experiments and Flight Tests (ACEFiT)  E. Yamaguchi1, A. AlShareef1, A. Goel2, S. Ravela1, and D. Bernstein2 1 Earth Signals and Systems Group, Massachusetts Institute of Technology2 Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Michigan Test: 4/3/21 @ 1630hrs – 1930hrs  Important: Refer to dropbox for system log (4-3). Flight summary: Three flights. Issues and…

Adaptive Control Experiments and Flight Tests (ACEFiT) E. Yamaguchi1, A. AlShareef1, A. Goel2, S. Ravela1, and D. Bernstein21: Earth Signals and Systems Group, Massachusetts Institute of Technology2: Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Michigan Test: 3/30/21Important: Refer to dropbox for system log. Summary: Several flights with ApparenticsSTS rewired with PX4/RFD900 in nominal configuration. Hold and…

When we started using hobby aircraft  for adaptive atmospheric sampling in 2011, in contrast to static flight plans,  we settled on the X8 after some involved study of a variety of hobby aircraft (“foamies”). We demonstrated its use in  the first autonomous plume hopper that we know in existence to map plume energies. Following experiments, we presented results…

Nick Roberts and Sai Ravela Over the last year or so, we have been working up on various mods on the standard airframe including: These mods are disclosed on this blog and freely available. Here we document the twin tail system with synchronized rudder control is developed using NACA-1414 airfoil and  Hitec Servos. The tail…

The number of UAS uses in Conservation Biology is exploding. Often far away from “civilization”, silent unmanned aircraft can quietly track wildlife, map the land and provide the data for new models of population, movement or  migration. Our methodological projects involving adaptive mapping, tracking and and individual identification found a home in a collaboration with…

Here is Yet Another POPO trip (YAPOPO!): Getting out and about Returning Home And the bird’s eye More pictures to follow here:                                

There is much demand for the use of sUAS to monitor, conserve and protect wildlife. Our work combines the animal biometic search engine (Sloop) with Cooperative Autonomous Observing System research (CAOS) to produce SloopFlyer, a realtime biometric tracking system for conservation. Based on the several requests we have received, it appears that Biologists, Systems Biologists, Ecologists…

Sunrise at Paso de Cortes is a sight to behold as the majestic snow-capped Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl peaks come into view. We have to hurry, there are only few hours left before the window closes into a fog, rain and even hail-filled afternoon. After a quick breakfast prepared by Joaquin, Baruc and Ruben head out…

Anyone into flying in the real world will tell you that all the beautiful “flying shots” are typically preceded by much preparation and numerous “uhoh” moments. Here, a few of our own… Like this one… That’s why we use foamies… We’ve had such fun so far in  “the process” that we thought putting some photos…

Admit it…every time you looked at a smokestack you’ve wondered what it does to the environment. You wished you could map the structure of the plume and follow the puffs. Small UAS’ can be made to do that, and much more, using a dynamic data-driven mapping paradigm. There’s much more sophisticated language for the intuitive…