An air reconnaissance craft guided from space

They resemble remote controlled models, but these small aircraft are in fact much more complex and use space technology.

 

Inspection of a MAV (Micro-Air Vehicle) created by the company MAVinci before its flight. These small aircraft are in fact aerial reconnaissance devices which use several space technologies. Credit: MAVinci/layout Enjoy Space

The European Space Agency (ESA) has long since introduced a program to promote the transfer of technologies used in space travel.  To this end, there are even incubators for young companies, such as the Business Incubation Centre in Darmstadt in Germany, which helps investors to achieve their projects based on space applications.

Small but effective!
The German start-up company MAVinci has benefited from this type of organisation within the ESA’s program. The MAV in MAVinci means Micro-Air Vehicles, small aerial drones which at first glance look like remote controlled models. But what enables these wonders of technology to go further than recreational model aircraft? MAVini wants to develop a new approach to aerial reconnaissance, until now largely accomplished using conventional aircraft, meaning with pilots and operators on board. Thanks to these MAV measuring less than 2 meters, the young company is offering a service which is as quick and flexible as it is economic, capable of collecting quality images. Among other things, the aerial photographs taken in this way allow the surveillance of sensitive areas or can quickly carry out an accurate inventory of damage following a natural catastrophe. A useful example would be locating roads that are still useable, highly valuable information for rescue operations. In short, the MAVinci micro-drones are small but effective!

Flight plan for a MAVinci micro-drone. The green line identifies the path of the aircraft while the blue rectangles show the different images which will be taken. Credit: MAVinci

For remote guidance, the ESA provided its expertise in satellite navigation systems (GPS) to ensure that the remote controlled aircraft follow the predetermined route. However, the European agency’s involvement does not stop there. To maintain its position in orbit, a satellite uses reference points such as the position of the stars, the Sun or Earth.  This navigation process has been transferred to the MAVinci air fleet, but with different reference points such as the local magnetic field. Likewise for the optimisation of the images collected. The space agency has a great deal of experience in the field of imagery where several detailed shots are often assembled in a mosaic in order to produce a photograph covering a wide area.

During a reconnaissance flight, a MAV takes images which, once assembled, give an overview of the area studied. The assembly and calibration of the photographs uses the same procedures and techniques as those used for satellite images. Credit: MAVinci/layout Enjoy Space

This operation, which resembles the construction of a puzzle requires for example, accurate knowledge of where such a shot has been taken so as to avoid mistakes in positioning it in the final mosaic, not forgetting the calibration work for the cameras so that the data collected is relevant and useable. The information gathered by these small MAVinci aircraft also use this technical ‘art form’ directly from the space agency.

Published 2 September 2010