ASTRIL Projects
3D Mapping
Three dimensional mapping is an extremely important aspect of geological surveying. Current methods of doing this, however, often poses pragmatic challenges. We introduce a technique for performing terrain mapping using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and standard digital cameras. Using a photogrammetric process called structure from motion (SFM), aerial images can be used to infer 3-dimensional data. Please visit the project page for more details.
Autonomous Kite Plane for Aerial Surveillance
The development of an autonomous fixed-wing motorized kite plane, Autokite, offers a unique approach to aerial photography in the field. The inexpensive and lightweight nature of the Autokite makes it ideal for deployment in environments that are remote and or extreme.
Autonomous ship board landing of a VTOL UAV
The autonomous landing of Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) is a very important capability for autonomous systems. Autonomously landing on a ship deck platform continues to be studied and has only recently been solved for very favorable weather conditions.
Our challenge is to provide the UAV with the capabilities of autonomously landing on ship deck platforms in extreme weather conditions.
EGGS (Exploration Geology & Geophysics Sensors)
Coming soon… Please visit the project page for more details.
Using UAVs to Assesses Signal Strength Patterns for Radio Telescopes
In this work the design of flight hardware for detecting the signal strength field pattern of an array of Radio Telescopes is considered. Utilizing the ultra-stable and robust aerial platform offered by a multi-rotor craft makes this task possible.
Change Detection using airborne Lidar
We work with geologists on developing algorithms for finding the local displacements on topographies during earth quakes. Algorithms use the Digital Elevation Models of earthquake sites (before and after the earthquake) obtained from Lidar scanners mounted on aerial vehicles. Please visit the project page for more details.
NIR Camera
The objective of NIR involved constructing an equivalent MER PANCAM from readily available commercial parts for use of science and study of Earth’s atmosphere and geological features. Please visit the project page for more details.
Path Planning for Ground Vehicles
The objective of this project is to study and devise new means for motion planning for ground vehicles, using Raven as the prototype vehicle. More specifically, we try to determine smooth paths for Raven to follow, as it traverses waypoints; such paths have wide use in applications, for instance in following an astronaut as (s)he walks along a random path. Please visit the Project Page for more details.
Plume Detection
The objective of this work was to autonomously detect manually verified features (plumes) in images under onboard conditions. Success enables these methods to be applied to future outer solar system missions and facilitates onboard autonomous detection of transient events and features regardless of viewing and illumination effects, electronic interference, and physical image arti facts. Autonomous detection allows the maximization of the spacecrafts memory capacity and downlink bandwidth byprioritizing data of utmost scientific significance. Please visit the project page for more details.
R.A.V.E.N.
RAVEN (Robotic Assist Vehicle for Extraterrestrial Navigation) was designed for the 2010 Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts Academic Linkage (RASC-AL) contest. Please visit the project page for more details.
Road Detection from UAV Aerial Imagery
Using aerial images taken from UAV photography to detect the presence of roads. In this work, we developed variations of algorithms suitable for different types of roads and detection. Please visit the project page for more details.
Autonomous Sampling
Autonomous Underwater Vehicles have proven themselves to be indispensable tools for mapping and sampling aquatic environments. However these sensing platforms can only travel as far as their stored energy capacities allow them to. Thus we are researching both offline and online adaptive sampling strategies that optimize both the estimation accuracy of the models derived from sampling and the energy consumption of the vehicle through. Please visit the project page for more details.
Other Projects
ASU Lunabotics Competition
Arizona State University is participating in the NASA’s Lunabotics Mining Competition that is designed to promote the development of interest in space activities and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields. The competition uses excavation, a necessary first step towards extracting resources from the regolith and building bases on the moon. Click the banner or http://robots.asu.edu/lunabotics/ to find out more .
High Altitude Turbine Survey // H.A.T.S.
The High Altitude Turbine Survey (HATS) is an attitudinal wind velocity experiment aimed at understanding thrust and other performance characteristics of micro-propellers along a vertical profile (35km). The survey data will have a wide range of application towards further study including wind power generation from airborne turbines, propeller-driven airships, and micro-propeller performance characteristics at extended altitudes. Click the banner or http://robots.asu.edu/hats/ to find out more.