Capstone Project
| Group | 2024-21 | Status | inprogress |
| Title | Autonomous Disaster Response Drone System | ||
| Supervisor | L. Rodrigues | ||
| Description | The goal of this Capstone project is to build an autonomous system for an off-the-shelf drone that can be used in Disaster Response and Search and Rescue missions, where time-sensitive operations and difficult-to-reach areas are common challenges. In such scenarios, the drone must have high agility and maneuverability to navigate confined or obstructed spaces, allowing it to access areas that are dangerous or impossible for humans. Additionally, autonomy is key to ensuring scalability, where a single operator can oversee multiple drones during a mission.
The project will focus on two main milestones. The first milestone involves simulating a simple Disaster Response scenario where the drone autonomously navigates through a narrow passage to gain access to a blocked-off building, demonstrating its ability to perform tight, controlled maneuvers. This will be demonstrated by having the drone turn sideways; pass through the opening and then transition to a hover state. The second milestone involves simulating a complex mission that would require the drone to overcome multiple obstacles to explore a disaster zone. This will be demonstrated by having the drone successfully run through a track as shown in Figure 1 to challenge its obstacle avoidance capabilities. The exact configuration of the track will be finalized based on the available testing grounds. Finally, since the application deals with Unstructured Environments, the drone is required to have all computation and sensory capabilities onboard. |
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| Student Requirement | - C/C++ Programming [COEN 346] - Python Programming [Past Projects & Industrial Internships] - Real-Time Operating Systems [COEN 320] - Control Systems [COEN 372, ELEC 481, AERO 480] - State Estimation [ELEC 473] - Machine Learning & Deep Learning - Reinforcement Learning (RL)/Optimal Control | ||
| Tools | - Simulation Environment - Flight Control Hardware - Autonomy Compute Hardware - Drone Essential Hardware such as the Frame and Battery - Sensory Input - Actuators - A safe physical location to enable real-world testing - Flight Control Software - Autonomy Software - Real-Time OS | ||
| Number of Students | 3-4 | ||
| Students | M. Darabi, G. Lemieux, L. Taleb. | ||
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