1.5 Unmanned Systems Sensors Article Review
The use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for search
and rescue operations has recently been a major area of focus in the
industry. UAS can be important tools for
first responders in saving lives, by assisting in response times, as UAS can
access areas that may be too dangerous or difficult to access for humans. UAS can relay important information back to
the first responders, allowing them to assess the situation and make
appropriate decision moving forward. In
response to this, the article I reviewed, discusses the recent development of an
UAS by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). They have developed the Fireproof Aerial
Robot System (FAROS) to help fight fires in skyscrapers, as it will be able to assist
first responders arriving at the scene of a fire (The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 2016) .
The article mentions the quadrotor FAROS was developed
by Hyun Myung and his research team, who is a professor in the Civil and
Environmental Engineering Department at KAIST.
It goes on to reference that the FAROS is equipped with several
proprioceptive sensors and exteroceptive sensors that allows it to search the
inside of buildings, while relaying real time data back to firefighters. In response to the data it collects, KAIST
(2016) articulates how the FAROS can change from flight mode to a mode that allows
it to crawl on walls, and also switch back to flight mode if need be, allowing
it to navigate through buildings and avoid obstacles. Along with this they mention that the FAROS can
withstand the heat in a burning building as it is fireproof and flame-retardant,
because it is covered with aramid fibers that protect its components. In addition this, KAIST indicates, the
FAROS has a thermoelectric cooling system that helps maintain a layer of air at
a specific temperature, under the skin, allowing it to withstand heat of over
1,000 degrees Celsius. According to
KAIST, the FAROS navigates autonomously utilizing a 2-D scanner, an altimeter,
and an inertia measurement unit sensor.
KAIST also mentions it is equipped with a thermal imaging camera allowing it to utilize image processing technology to find the fire-ignition point (The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and
Technology (KAIST), 2016) .
Hyun Myung’s research group also demonstrates the
FAROS ability to navigate a smoky room, in narrow spaces, in a video
demonstrating its capabilities. In the
video it shows the FAROS flying in a room as it fills up with smoke. As the room fills with smoke the FAROS
eventually switches from flight mode to a mode that lets it maneuver slowly
along a wall. It also shows a screen
shot of the real time position estimation of the FAROS utilizing LiDAR sensors. In the video the group also demonstrates the
FAROS fireproof capabilities by trying to light it on fire with a butane torch,
and the UAS does not ignite. Last, after
they try to light it on fire, the group flies the FAROS successfully to demonstrate that no
damage was done by the flames to the UAS (Urban Robotics Lab KAIST, 2016) .
If Professor Myung and his research team continue to
develop and enhance the sensors in the FAROS, it will be interesting to follow
and see how the technology improves in the future. I believe this technology will greatly help
first responders throughout the world, and may be able to be used for other
applications in other industries too.
References:
The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
(KAIST). (2016, January 18). A firefighter drone that flies and crawls up
walls . Retrieved June 4, 2016, from EurekAlert! Science News: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-01/tkai-afd011816.php
Urban Robotics Lab KAIST. (2016, January 3). Fireproof Aerial
RObot System (FAROS). Retrieved June 5, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPNRZi0EPQw&feature=youtu.be
No comments:
Post a Comment