Power line field sensing to support autonomous navigation of small unmanned aerial vehicles

John Matthews; Leonid Bukshpun; Ranjit Pradhan

doi:10.1117/12.2016173

6 June 2013 Power line field sensing to support autonomous navigation of small unmanned aerial vehicles

John Matthews, Leonid Bukshpun, Ranjit Pradhan

Proceedings Volume 8711, Sensors, and Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence (C3I) Technologies for Homeland Security and Homeland Defense XII; 87110V (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2016173
Event: SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing, 2013, Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Abstract

Autonomous navigation around power lines in a complex urban environment is a critical challenge facing small unmanned aerial vehicles (SUAVs). As part of an ongoing development of an electric and magnetic field sensor system designed to provide SUAVs with the capability to sense and avoid power transmission and distribution lines by monitoring their electric and magnetic field signatures, we have performed field measurements and analysis of power-line signals. We discuss the nature of the power line signatures to be detected, and optimal strategies for detecting these signals amid SUAV platform noise and environmental interference. Based on an analysis of measured power line signals and vehicle noise, we have found that, under certain circumstances, power line harmonics can be detected at greater range than the fundamental. We explain this phenomenon by combining a model of power line signal nonlinearity with the quasi-static electric and magnetic signatures of multiphase power lines.

Citation Download Citation

John Matthews, Leonid Bukshpun, and Ranjit Pradhan "Power line field sensing to support autonomous navigation of small unmanned aerial vehicles", Proc. SPIE 8711, Sensors, and Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence (C3I) Technologies for Homeland Security and Homeland Defense XII, 87110V (6 June 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2016173

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