Some Frequently Asked Questions in regards to our methods and approach to some of the problems.
Some Frequently Asked Questions in regards to our methods and approach to some of the problems.
One of our advisors, Dr. Ross Cheriton, approached us with a system he has developed that is capable of breaking down trace gases in the atmosphere. The system took advantage of the absorption of gas that takes place when a laser travels through the pocket. So a system where you transmit a laser signal through a pocket of gas from one drone to another drone that was capable of receiving and breaking down the signal was ideal for this situation. Although our project is independent from the gas sensing portion, it is one of the driving factors behind this project.
Currently, drone flight in windy weather is normal, as Stabilize and Loiter mode are able to compensate for gusts of wind that interact with the UAV. Additionally, the altitude at which we will be flying renders any signal distortion to be very negligible, so it is not a big issue that we will be dealing with. Studies have shown that signal distortion due to turbulence and other elements do not occur until the beam propagation length is in the kilometer range.
We chose Python for a number of reasons. The biggest reason is the DroneKit library that is already configured with numerous drone scripts. Another reason is Python's easy-to-use language, with Python being closer to plain English language than any other programming language. There may be questions in regards to speed when compared to another programming language such as C++. But, if you really look at it, although we are using Python as the general interface, C++ is being used under the hood.
There are many applications for this system. First off is the aforementioned system that uses absorption to detect trace gases in the atmosphere. Another application is its possible use in covert applications, as using a laser for drone-to-drone communication allows for an untraceable form of communication that cannot be tapped unless the actual signal is intercepted. The capabilities for a system such as this one are endless.