Core reminder: In this era of global networking, the public is no longer confused and distant about drones, but they don't know much about the application fields of drones and the application of sensors on drones. Next, the editor will introduce the development status of UAV and sensing technology in detail. ^The development focus of UAV technology, which was primarily focused on military applications, has gradually shifted to the commercial market. Mainly include: 1. Goods transportation and express delivery are in remote or inaccessible areas. UAVs can be used to transport medicines and small items, including transporting materials to areas that have experienced earthquakes, floods and disease outbreaks. another
In this era of global networking, the public is no longer confused and distant about drones, but they don’t know much about the application fields of drones and the application of sensors on drones. Next, the editor will introduce the development status of UAV and sensing technology in detail. ^The development focus of UAV technology, which was primarily focused on military applications, has gradually shifted to the commercial market.
mainly includes︰
1. Cargo transportation and express delivery
In remote or inaccessible areas, drones can be used to transport medicines and small items, including transporting supplies to areas that have experienced earthquakes, floods, and disease outbreaks. On the other hand, drones can also be used for commercial express delivery.
2. Monitoring and measurement
Monitoring and measurement industry is currently a market with a large increase. For example, geomagnetic surveys can be used to predict the location of mineral deposits, natural gas and oil pipeline monitoring, disaster area inspections, and wildfire detection and prevention. Including applications in archaeological research and data collection can shorten research time.
3. Commercial film
Media and filmmakers use drones to capture images and videos, thereby replacing helicopters or expensive lifting equipment. While reducing costs, they can also improve shooting sensitivity and operability, and provide directors with more high-quality pictures and videos. Picture. At the same time, the drone can also be used to capture sports events and obtain dynamic close-ups of athletes during the game, especially close-ups of athletes during high-speed movement.
4. Medical and health
The use of drones in the field of healthcare is also receiving increasing attention. Small drones can effectively use internal medical facilities and autonomously deliver drugs to the patient's bedside. They can also be used to deliver key items such as blood analysis and medical supplies, and ambulance drones are also being tested. These drones can be used to deliver automated external defibrillators to increase the survival rate of patients in cardiac arrest.
5. Agriculture
The application of drones in agriculture has increased substantially in the past few years. Farmers use drones to monitor and improve the health of crops and irrigation systems and livestock locations. In view of the severe drought treatment and other issues, drones will become an increasingly important new production tool for agricultural industrialization. The Global Research Report of Merrill Lynch Bank of the United States shows that the market potential of agricultural drones will create more than 100,000 jobs, and the market capacity will reach US$82 billion from 2015 to 2025.
6. Law enforcement
In the past few years, police in many countries have used drones to monitor suspects and public places. The drone can be equipped with non-lethal tools, such as stun guns, to investigate criminals and assist in the hunt. For example: North Dakota in the United States is conducting patrol tests on drones equipped with stun guns, while other drones are equipped with sensors to identify chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear materials.
Sensor makes unmanned driving
According to the current UAV development trend, what role will sensor technology play? As shown in the figure below.
Sensor technology is widely used in new drone technologies and solutions
Accelerometer
Accelerometer is used to determine the position and flight attitude of the drone. Like the Nintendo Wii controller or iPhone screen position, these small MEMS sensors play a key role in maintaining flight control. MEMS acceleration sensor has many ways to sense movement posture, one type of technology can sense the tiny movement of micro integrated circuit.
Another accelerometer technology is thermal convection technology, which has no moving parts, but changes in motion that are sensed by the displacement of a "hot air mass". This type of sensor has high sensitivity and plays a vital role in stabilizing car cameras, film production and other applications.
Inertial measurement unit
Inertial measurement unit combined with GPS is the key to maintaining direction and flight path. With the development of UAV intelligence, direction and path control are important air traffic management rules. The multi-axis magnetic sensor used in the inertial measurement unit is essentially a small compass with extremely high accuracy, which transmits data to the central processing unit by sensing the direction to indicate the direction and speed.
Tilt sensor
Inclination sensor, integrated gyroscope and accelerometer to provide flight control system with data to maintain level flight. This type of sensor and gyroscope, combined with an accelerometer, can measure subtle changes in motion, enabling the tilt sensor to be used in mobile programs, such as gyroscope compensation for cars or drones.
Atmospheric monitoring sensor
The quality of air is a topic that people^ pay attention to. Real-time monitoring of air quality and air pollution has become a hot spot. Of course, atmospheric monitoring sensors play a vital role in it. At present, Weisheng Technology's atmospheric monitoring sensors have been widely used in urban atmospheric environment monitoring, monitoring of unorganized pollutant emissions from factories and plants, and environmental assessment and monitoring. It can monitor a variety of gases, including: ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, etc.
current sensor
The power consumption and use of drones are very important, especially when powered by batteries. Current sensors can be used to monitor and optimize power consumption to ensure the safety of the drone's internal battery charging and motor failure detection system. The current sensor works by measuring current (bidirectional), and ideally provides electrical isolation to reduce power loss and eliminate the chance of electrical shock damaging the user's system.
Magnetic sensor
In UAVs, electronic compasses provide critical inertial navigation and direction positioning system information. Sensors based on anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) technology have obvious advantages in power consumption compared to other sensors, and at the same time have the characteristics of high accuracy and short response time, which are very suitable for UAV applications.
Engine intake air flow sensor
Flow sensor can be used to effectively monitor the tiny air flow rate of electric UAV gas engine. Many gas engine mass flow sensors use thermal technology, which mainly uses heated elements and at least one temperature sensor to quantify the mass flow. The MEMS thermal gas mass flow sensor also uses the thermal principle in the micrometering range and it is suitable for fields with higher weight requirements.
