Watercraft-Specific Drone Landing and Stabilization Platform: A Low-Cost Design and Implementation Approach
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
11-4-2024
Department
College of Computing
Abstract
The increasing use of drones for environmental monitoring, search and rescue, and recreational activities has created a demand for specialized stabilization platforms, especially for watercraft-based operations. This paper presents the design and implementation of a low-cost stabilization and landing platform for drones on watercraft. The proposed system aims to enhance the stability and performance of drones in the challenging and dynamic environments of water bodies. The design process involved a comprehensive analysis of watercraft-based drone operations' unique requirements and constraints. An electromechanical system was employed to develop a robust and affordable platform capable of mitigating the effects of watercraft motion, including pitch and roll disturbances. Key components of the system include an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), linear actuators, a custom universal joint design, and control algorithms. The initial implementation phase involved the integration of the stabilization platform with a standard drone and testing under controlled laboratory conditions. This study offers a cost-effective solution for improving drone operations and landings in water environments. The insights gained from this research can be applied to other mobile platforms requiring stabilization in dynamic and unstable conditions. Future work will focus on testing the system in real-world watercraft scenarios, optimizing actuator power, developing a modular and portable system, and exploring the potential for autonomous stabilization.
Publication Title
2024 22nd International Conference on Research and Education in Mechatronics, REM 2024
ISBN
9798331505974
Recommended Citation
Alluri, S.,
Nanabala, H.,
Tutunji, T.,
&
Saleem, A.
(2024).
Watercraft-Specific Drone Landing and Stabilization Platform: A Low-Cost Design and Implementation Approach.
2024 22nd International Conference on Research and Education in Mechatronics, REM 2024, 319-325.
http://doi.org/10.1109/REM63063.2024.10735500
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p2/1318
