A University of Houston engineer has developed a new onboard safety system that could help drones avoid crashes before they happen, even when unexpected events knock them off course.
The technology, designed specifically for quadrotor drones, acts as an autonomous “safety supervisor.” Instead of replacing the drone’s pilot or flight software, it continuously monitors the aircraft during flight and steps in only when it detects that the drone is about to enter a dangerous situation.
The idea is straightforward. A drone may be following its planned flight path perfectly, but an unexpected gust of wind, a sudden disturbance, or another external force can quickly push it toward an obstacle or unsafe area. The new system is designed to recognize that risk in real time and automatically make corrections before a crash occurs.
The research was led by Marzia Cescon, David C. Zimmerman Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Houston’s Cullen College of Engineering, and was published in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Digital Collection.
Cescon describes the technology as an “invisible fence” surrounding the drone.
