Drone Hangar
The intelligent drone hangar was developed within the RescueFly project and serves as a landing platform and a parking station for the drone during a specific mission.
Purpose & Motivation
The drone hangar was funded to support emergency responders in water rescue operations with automated and localized drones. The intelligent drone hangar—which is connected online to a central rescue command center and equipped with appropriate sensors—serves as a parking station for the drone and was planned to be deployed locally at designated hazard sites to support rescue operations, specifically in the context of water rescue.
Technical Description
The intelligent drone hangar is equipped with two opening flaps that operate in sync. The opening angle and width were determined based on the RescueFly project’s drone's specifications. The landing area was equipped with a two-dimensional repositioning system.
After landing, this system can move the drone in the X- and Y- directions to a predetermined position. Built-in sensors—or sensors connected to the intelligent drone hangar—monitor current weather conditions as well as the status of the hangar, and the drone and its battery.
The mechanical foundation of the intelligent drone hangar is a drone rack called “dRack” from the company DELTA-Fluid Industrietechnik GmbH, which is made of PE100 polyethylene and features high mechanical strength and weather resistance, and can be manufactured and operated in the required size.
Capabilities
To inspect the drone after the mission is complete and after the intelligent drone hangar has been closed, the intelligence of the intelligent drone hangar—developed by the Professorship of Computer Engineering—is utilized within the overall system.
Above each rotor of the repositioned drone, an optical camera and a ring light have been placed. This specialized sensor system can automatically detect whether a rotor has been damaged during the mission flight. Additional inspection functions are being developed based on this sensor system.
Research Context
Related Projects: RescueFly, SmartCargoDrone
Visuals
