Pteryx UAV
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| Pteryx UAV | |
|---|---|
 Pteryx UAV, with the camera mounted sideways. | |
| General information | |
| Type | UAV |
| Role | Photography |
| National origin | Poland |
| Manufacturer | Trigger Composites |
Pteryx UAV[1] was a Polish Miniature Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) designed for civilian use. It was manufactured and sold by Trigger Composites.[2] The machine was both a flying remote control (RC) model and pre-programmed vehicle. It was awarded the Innowator Podkarpacia medal for innovative design in the category of micro-enterprises of the Podkarpacie region in 2010.[3]
The Pteryx UAV uses a custom derivation of the FLEXIPILOT software, designed by Aerial Robotics engineering group[4] for photomapping purposes and civilian use.
The avionics and flying platform are capable of full operational capability without using an active transmitter or ground station.
Capabilities
- Delivering data for generating digital elevation models using external photogrammetric software and orthorectification procedure[5]
- Delivering data for precision agriculture by creating surface maps using mosaicking software
- Construction site and long-range linear mapping (up to around 40 km both ways with 2-hour flight time, reserve included)[6]
- Carrying custom research equipment
The camera mount contains either pre-installed compact digital camera or can be exchanged for other equipment.
The camera can be mounted down-looking (nadir photography) or side-looking (oblique photography).
The whole head can be tilted in flight using the RC transmitter, while reducing stabilization travel to one of the sides.
Capabilities
- Flying multiple missions per day without being required to reprogram the autopilot, using waypoints.
- Exchangeable mission package
- Single button operation
- Fully enclosed camera head
- Ability to accommodate a weight range 200g-1000g
- Takeoff by catapult
- Landing through use of a parachute
Camera
The aircraft provides positions of the photos taken, and has storage for 8000 events. Ground-projected positions include the following error margins:
- GPS position error up to 5m.
- Altitude drift (up to 5m per 1 hour of flight)
- Camera head stabilization precision (transients up to 5°)
- Fuselage pitch due to turbulence (up to 8° during hot weather, typically 2° in winter)
- Camera mounting error (typically 1–4° if not calibrated)
- Heading/yaw error (the aircraft performs crabbing in presence of wind)
Typical orthophoto map precision (mean reprojection errors):
- 10 centimetres (3.9 in) horizontal
- 30 centimetres (12 in) vertical
- around 2.5m global shift to be removed with a few locally measured points
Data processing strategies
Several data processing approaches are possible depending on application:
- Direct photo examination
- Non-georeferenced image stitching using free software
- Using free 3D modelling services, as mentioned in examples section
- Importing each photo as ground overlay in Google Earth (semi-automatic with supplied software)
- Using pre-paid service based on cloud computing, yielding a result in hours (delivers orthophotomap and optionally DSM)
- Local processing using specialized GIS software created specifically for large scale image mosaicking (delivers orthophotomap and optionally DSM)
Aircraft components
- Fuselage
- 3-section wings with mounting screws
- Horizontal stabilizer section
- Parachute
Other required equipment
- LiPo batteries
- Laptop or netbook
- Compact digital camera
- RC controller compliant with local laws (see Radio-controlled aircraft Transmitting and Receiving Frequencies)