Visual Detection and Implementation Aspects of a UAV See and Avoid System

Abstract

One of the missing critical on-board safety equipment of the Unmanned Arial Vehicles (UAVs) is the collision avoidance system. In 2010 we launched a project to research and develop an SAA system for UAS. As the system will be on-board in a small aircraft we have to minimize the weight, the volume, and the power consumption. The acceptable power consumption is 1–2W and the mass of the control system is maximum 300–500g. Here we present the concept of a visual input based See and Avoid (SAA) system. This paper introduces the long range visual detection algorithm and the implementation aspect of the many core processor device.