Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / In 21st century, interoperability in remote locations has always been a matter of contention. Interoperability is very closely related to internet and an efficient process saves a lot of time and money. With the advent of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN), Native Internet Protocol (NIP) is considered as one of the most pragmatic solutions in market to address interoperability challenges and is gaining more attention in research. However, challenges like reliability, security of data, power consumption, range and maintenance, and accessibility of such internet in remote locations still remain a matter of concern, creating further barriers for interoperability. This research aims at proposing a viable solution to interoperability issues at remote locations, irrespective of its network or payload size, by integrating more advanced Wireless Sensor Protocols like Thread Protocol with a proposed Over The Air (OTA) file transfer functionality, into UAVs. Furthermore, this study analyzes power consumption, reliability, latency and scope of the proposed system and their applications in health care and industries.

AirSim is a new simulator developed as a plugin for the Unreal Engine, aiming to be a useful tool aiding the development and testing of algorithms for autonomous vehicles. Due to AirSim still being in its infancy there is little to none research available of its possibilities or detailed guidelines and tutorials on how to use its APIs.Rust is a new systems programming language with the purpose of being safe, practical and concurrent which through design choices can solve some of the major drawbacks of the C programming language such as memory leaks, thread management, and segmentation faults.Researching the features of AirSim and its different ways of communicating, we determine the possibility of implementing a custom flight controller in Rust and C able to control a drone in the simulator and evaluate the capabilities of Rust compared to C. This is conducted by reading available documentation for AirSim, studying the source code and learning about the communication protocols used by AirSim.This thesis results in an implementation of a custom flight controller in Rust and C that controls a drone in AirSim using a communication protocol named MAVLink which enables fine-grained control of the motors. The conclusion made about the comparison of Rust and C is that both languages were able to implement the safety-critical functionality of the flight controller and that Rust provided capabilities which could be useful when developing safety-critical systems. / AirSim är en ny simulator utvecklad som ett plugin för Unreal Engine, med målet att fungera som ett hjälpmedel inom utveckling och testning av algoritmer för autonoma fordon. På grund av att AirSim fortfarande är väldigt ungt finns väldigt lite forskning tillgänglig om dess möjligheter eller detaljerade riktlinjer och beskrivningar för användningen av dess APIer.Rust är ett nytt programmeringsspråk med målet att vara säkert, praktiskt och parallellt vilket genom designval kan lösa några av de största problemen med programmeringsspråket C som till exempel minnessläckor, trådhantering och segmenteringsfel.Genom att undersöka funktionerna i AirSim och dess olika sätt att kommunicera, utforskar vi möjligheten av att utveckla en egen flygkontroller i Rust och C som kan styra en drönare i simulatorn och utvärdera Rust i förhållande till C. Detta genomförs genom att läsa tillgänglig dokumentation för AirSim, studera källkoden och lära oss de kommunikationsprotokoll som används av AirSim.Denna avhandling resulterar i implementationen av en egen flygkontroller i Rust och C som styr en drönare i AirSim med kommunikationsprotokollet MAVLink, vilket möjliggör en noggrann kontroll av motorerna. Slutsatsen gällande Rust och C är att båda språken fungerade väl för implementationen av säkerhetsritiska funktioner i flygkontrollern samt att Rust erbjöd förmågor som kan visa sig vara användbara vid utveckling av säkerhetskritiska system.

<div>In 21st century, interoperability in remote locations has always been a matter of contention. Interoperability is very closely related to internet and an efficient process saves a lot of time and money. With the advent of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN), Native Internet Protocol (NIP) is considered as one of the most pragmatic solutions in market to address interoperability challenges and is gaining more attention in research. However, challenges like reliability, security of data, power consumption, range and maintenance, and accessibility of such internet in remote locations still remain a matter of concern, creating further barriers for interoperability. This research aims at proposing a viable solution to interoperability issues at remote locations, irrespective of its network or payload size, by integrating more advanced Wireless Sensor Protocols like Thread Protocol with a proposed Over The Air (OTA) file transfer functionality, into UAVs. Furthermore, this study analyzes power consumption, reliability, latency and scope of the proposed system and their applications in health care and industries.</div>

The explosion in processing power of embedded systems has enabled distributed embedded networks to perform more complicated tasks. Middleware are sets of encapsulations of common and network/operating system-specific functionality into generic, reusable frameworks to manage such distributed networks. This thesis will survey and categorize popular middleware implementations into three adapted layers: host-infrastructure, distribution, and common services. This thesis will then apply a quantitative approach to grading and proposing a single middleware solution from all layers for two target platforms: CubeSats and autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). CubeSats are 10x10x10cm nanosatellites that are popular university-level space missions, and impose power and volume constraints. Autonomous UAVs are similarly-popular hobbyist-level vehicles that exhibit similar power and volume constraints. The MAVLink middleware from the host-infrastructure layer is proposed as the middleware to manage the distributed embedded networks powering these platforms in future projects. Finally, this thesis presents a performance analysis on MAVLink managing the ARM Cortex-M 32-bit processors that power the target platforms.

The aim of this thesis is to modify commercially produced drone DJI Matrice 100 and replace its original control unit by open source Pixhawk and its accessories. Subsequently, it deals with the selection of suitable open source firmware for Pixhawk and its configuration on the device. Another part is dedicated to the possibilities of using the Robotic Operating System (ROS) and its Mavros libraries on the onboard computer Raspberry Pi. By using Mavros, it examines the possibilities of drone flight control, both in the simulation environment and in the real environment.

Die Auswahl an Hardware und Software auf dem Drohnen-Markt nimmt stetig zu. Autopilot-Software wie z. B. ArduCopter bietet bereits die Möglichkeit eine vor dem Flug definierte Liste von Wegpunkten automatisiert abzufliegen. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wird eine Software entwickelt, die dynamische Flugroutenplanung ermöglicht. Befindet sich beispielsweise ein Hindernis auf der aktuellen Flugbahn, berechnet ein Pfadplanungsalgorithmus eine neue Route ohne Kollision um dieses Hindernis herum.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / In today’s world, the applications of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) systems are leaping by extending their scope from military applications on to commercial and medical sectors as well. Owing to this commercialization, the need to append external hardware with UAV systems becomes inevitable. This external hardware could aid in enabling wireless data transfer between the UAV system and remote Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) using low powered architecture like Thread, BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy). The data is being transmitted from the flight controller to the ground control station using a MAVlink (Micro Air Vehicle Link) protocol. But this radio transmission method is not secure, which may lead to data leakage problems. The ideal aim of this research is to address the issues of integrating different hardware with the flight controller of the UAV system using a light-weight protocol called UAVCAN (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Controller Area Network). This would result in reduced wiring and would harness the problem of integrating multiple systems to UAV. At the same time, data security is addressed by deploying an encryption chip into the UAV system to encrypt the data transfer using ECC (Elliptic curve cryptography) and transmitting it to cloud platforms instead of radio transmission.

[EN] As the popularity and the number of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) increases, new protocols are needed to coordinate them when flying without direct human control, and to avoid that these UAVs collide with each other. Testing such novel protocols on real UAVs is a complex procedure that requires investing much time, money and research efforts. Hence, it becomes necessary to first test the developed solutions using simulation. Unfortunately, existing tools present significant limitations: some of them only simulate accurately the flight behavior of a single UAV, while some other simulators can manage several UAVs simultaneously, but not in real time, thus losing accuracy regarding the mobility pattern of the UAV. In this work we address such problem by introducing Arducopter Simulator (ArduSim), a novel simulation platform that allows controlling in soft real-time the flight and communications of multiple UAVs, being the developed protocols directly portable to real devices. Moreover, ArduSim includes a realistic model for the WiFi communications link between UAVs, which was proposed based on real experiments. The chances that two UAVs get close to each other during their flights is increasing as more and more of them populate our skies, causing concerns regarding potential collisions. Therefore, this thesis also proposes the Mission Based Collision Avoidance Protocol (MBCAP), a novel UAV collision avoidance protocol applicable to all types of multicopters flying autonomously. It relies on wireless communications in order to detect nearby UAVs, and to negotiate the procedure to avoid any potential collision. Experimental and simulation results demonstrate the validity and effectiveness of the proposed solution, which typically introduces a small overhead in the range of 15 to 42 seconds for each risky situation successfully handled. The previous solution aims at UAVs performing independent flights, but they can also form a swarm, where more constraints have to be met to avoid collisions among them, and to allow them to complete their task efficiently. Deploying an UAV swarm instead of a single UAV can provide additional benefits when, for example, cargo carrying requirements exceed the lifting power of a single UAV, or when the deployment of several UAVs simultaneously can accelerate the accomplishment of the mission, and broaden the covered area. To this aim, in this work we present the Mission-based UAV Swarm Coordination Protocol (MUSCOP), a solution that allows multiple UAVs to perfectly coordinate their flight when performing planned missions. Experimental results show that the proposed protocol is able to achieve a high degree of swarm cohesion independently of the flight formation adopted, and even in the presence of very lossy channels, achieving minimal synchronization delays and very low position offsets with regard to the ideal case. Currently, there are some other scenarios, such as search and rescue operations, where the deployment of manually guided swarms of UAVs can be necessary. In such cases, the pilot's commands are unknown a priori (unpredictable), meaning that the UAVs must respond in near real-time to the movements of the leader UAV in order to maintain swarm consistency. Hence, in this thesis we also propose the FollowMe protocol for the coordination of UAVs in a swarm where the swarm leader is controlled by a real pilot, and the other UAVs must follow it in real-time to maintain swarm cohesion. Simulation results show the validity of the proposed swarm coordination protocol, detailing the responsiveness limits of our solution, and finding the minimum distances between UAVs to avoid collisions. / [ES] A medida que la popularidad de los Vehículos Aéreos No Tripulados (VANTs) se incrementa, también se hacen necesarios nuevos protocolos para coordinarlos en vuelos sin control humano directo, y para evitar que colisionen entre sí. Probar estos nuevos protocolos en VANTs reales es un proceso complejo que requiere invertir mucho tiempo, dinero y esfuerzo investigador. Por lo tanto, es necesario probar en simulación las soluciones previamente implementadas. Lamentablemente, las herramientas actuales tienen importantes limitaciones: algunas simulan con precisión el vuelo de un único VANT, mientras que otros simuladores pueden gestionar varios VANTs simultáneamente aunque no en tiempo real, perdiendo por lo tanto precisión en el patrón de movilidad del VANT. En este trabajo abordamos este problema introduciendo Arducopter Simulator (ArduSim), una nueva plataforma de simulación que permite controlar en tiempo real el vuelo y la comunicación entre múltiples VANTs, permitiendo llevar los protocolos desarrollados a dispositivos reales con facilidad. Además, ArduSim incluye un modelo realista de un enlace de comunicaciones WiFi entre VANTs, el cual está basado en el resultado obtenido de experimentos con VANTs reales. La posibilidad de que dos VANTs se aproximen entre sí durante el vuelo se incrementa a medida que hay más aeronaves de este tipo surcando los cielos, introduciendo peligro por posibles colisiones. Por ello, esta tesis propone Mission Based Collision Avoidance Protocol (MBCAP), un nuevo protocolo de evitación de colisiones para VANTs aplicable a todo tipo de multicópteros mientras vuelan autónomamente. MBCAP utiliza comunicaciones inalámbricas para detectar VANTs cercanos y para negociar el proceso de evitación de la colisión. Los resultados de simulaciones y experimentos reales demuestran la validez y efectividad de la solución propuesta, que introduce un pequeño aumento del tiempo de vuelo de entre 15 y 42 segundos por cada situación de riesgo correctamente resuelta. La solución anterior está orientada a VANTs que realizan vuelos independientes, pero también pueden formar un enjambre, donde hay que cumplir más restricciones para evitar que colisionen entre sí, y para que completen la tarea de forma eficiente. Desplegar un enjambre de VANTs en vez de uno solo proporciona beneficios adicionales cuando, por ejemplo, la necesidad de carga excede la capacidad de elevación de un único VANT, o cuando al desplegar varios VANTs simultáneamente se acelera la misión y se cubre un área mayor. Con esta finalidad, en este trabajo presentamos el protocolo Mission-based UAV Swarm Coordination Protocol (MUSCOP), una solución que permite a varios VANTs coordinar perfectamente el vuelo mientras realizan misiones planificadas. Los resultados experimentales muestran que el protocolo propuesto permite al enjambre alcanzar un grado de cohesión elevado independientemente de la formación de vuelo adoptada, e incluso en presencia de un canal de comunicación con muchas pérdidas, consiguiendo retardos en la sincronización insignificantes y desfases mínimos en la posición con respecto al caso ideal. Actualmente hay otros escenarios, como las operaciones de búsqueda y rescate, donde el despliegue de enjambres de VANTs guiados manualmente puede ser necesario. En estos casos, las órdenes del piloto son desconocidas a priori (impredecibles), lo que significa que los VANTs deben responder prácticamente en tiempo real a los movimientos del VANT líder para mantener la consistencia del enjambre. Por ello, en esta tesis proponemos el protocolo FollowMe para la coordinación de VANTs en un enjambre donde el líder es controlado por un piloto, y el resto de VANTs lo siguen en tiempo real para mantener la cohesión del enjambre. Las simulaciones muestran la validez del protocolo de coordinación de enjambres propuesto, detallando los límites de la solución, y definiendo la distancia mínima entre VANTs para evita / [CA] A mesura que la popularitat dels Vehicles Aeris No Tripulats (VANTs) s'incrementa, també es fan necessaris nous protocols per a coordinar-los en vols sense control humà directe, i per a evitar que col·lisionen entre si. Provar aquests nous protocols en VANTs reals és un procés complex que requereix invertir molt de temps, diners i esforç investigador. Per tant, és necessari provar en simulació les solucions prèviament implementades. Lamentablement, les eines actuals tenen importants limitacions: algunes simulen amb precisió el vol d'un únic VANT, mentre que altres simuladors poden gestionar diversos VANTs simultàniament encara que no en temps real, perdent per tant precisió en el patró de mobilitat del VANT. En aquest treball abordem aquest problema introduint Arducopter Simulator (ArduSim), una nova plataforma de simulació que permet controlar en temps real el vol i la comunicació entre múltiples VANTs, permetent portar els protocols desenvolupats a dispositius reals amb facilitat. A més, ArduSim inclou un model realista d'un enllaç de comunicacions WiFi entre VANTs, que està basat en el resultat obtingut d'experiments amb VANTs reals. La possibilitat que dues VANTs s'aproximen entre si durant el vol s'incrementa a mesura que hi ha més aeronaus d'aquest tipus solcant els cels, introduint perill per possibles col·lisions. Per això, aquesta tesi proposa Mission Based Collision Avoidance Protocol (MBCAP), un nou protocol d'evitació de col·lisions per a VANTs aplicable a tota mena de multicòpters mentre volen autònomament. MBCAP utilitza comunicacions sense fils per a detectar VANTs pròxims i per a negociar el procés d'evitació de la col·lisió. Els resultats de simulacions i experiments reals demostren la validesa i efectivitat de la solució proposada, que introdueix un xicotet augment del temps de vol de entre 15 i 42 segons per cada situació de risc correctament resolta. La solució anterior està orientada a VANTs que realitzen vols independents, però també poden formar un eixam, on cal complir més restriccions per a evitar que col·lisionen entre si, i perquè completen la tasca de forma eficient. Desplegar un eixam de VANTs en comptes d'un només proporciona beneficis addicionals quan, per exemple, la necessitat de càrrega excedeix la capacitat d'elevació d'un únic VANT, o quan en desplegar diversos VANTs simultàniament s'accelera la missió i es cobreix una àrea major. Amb aquesta finalitat, en aquest treball presentem el protocol Mission-based UAV Swarm Coordination Protocol (MUSCOP), una solució que permet a diversos VANTs coordinar perfectament el vol mentre realitzen missions planificades. Els resultats experimentals mostren que el protocol proposat permet a l'eixam aconseguir un grau de cohesió elevat independentment de la formació de vol adoptada, i fins i tot en presència d'un canal de comunicació amb moltes pèrdues, aconseguint retards en la sincronització insignificants i desfasaments mínims en la posició respecte al cas ideal. Actualment hi ha altres escenaris, com les operacions de cerca i rescat, on el desplegament d'eixams de VANTs guiats manualment pot ser necessari. En aquests casos, les ordres del pilot són desconegudes a priori (impredictibles), el que significa que els VANTs han de respondre pràcticament en temps real als moviments del VANT líder per a mantindre la consistència de l'eixam. Per això, en aquesta tesi proposem el protocol FollowMe per a la coordinació de VANTs en un eixam on el líder és controlat per un pilot, i la resta de VANTs ho segueixen en temps real per a mantindre la cohesió de l'eixam. Les simulacions mostren la validesa del protocol de coordinació d'eixams proposat, detallant els límits de la solució, i definint la distància mínima entre VANTs per a evitar col·lisions. / Fabra Collado, FJ. (2020). Flight coordination solutions for multirotor unmanned aerial vehicles [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/147857

The thesis aims to design and implement an Android application with ability to control the autopilot of the Skydog aircraft model using the wireless telemetry. The application shall receive data from an aircraft model gathered from various installed sensors. These data shall be then processed and corresponding instructions for autopilot shall be sent back. When collision with terrain or obstacle is detected, the application shall send instructions to autopilot to avoid such collision. RRT algorithm is used to find collision-free flight trajectory. Database of known obstacles and digital terrain model are provided to application in formats XML and GeoTIFF respectively.

In the future, the usage of UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) will be applied in many different areas. Continued research in UAVs can benefit through its applications in disaster response, humanitarian aid, environmental monitoring, infrastructure inspection, improved transportation and delivery systems, and scientific research. By leveraging UAV technology and making the technology easier to get into, we can enhance efficiency, safety, and accessibility in various fields while addressing critical global challenges and improving the well-being of individuals and communities. The entry knowledge needed for starting development with UAVs can be high due to the complex communication needed between a ground station and the UAV. This report has the goal of lowering that entry barrier by doing an investigation of some available communication protocols, choosing a protocol and using said protocol to develop and implement an interface for communication between a ground control station and companion computer onboard an UAV. The investigation of communication protocols for UAVs indicated that the widely used Mavlink protocol is the best suited communication protocol for this implementation. The development and iterative process, carried out with the mentioned protocol and a UAV flight controller, resulted in the creation of an artifact that can serve as the desired interface.