Unmanned Systems Technology 003 | UAV Solutions Talon 120 | Cable harnesses | Austro Engine AE50R and AE300 | Autonomous mining | AUVSI 2015 show report | Transponders | Space systems

UAV Solutions offers this Dragon View camera with stabilised gimbal 27 UAV Solutions Talon 120 | Dossier Pixhawk autopilot developed by the PX4 open-source project and manufactured by 3D Robotics. It modifies its ground control system software according to the configuration of the Pixhawk system, which is application-specific. The autopilot controls the motor speed controller and the servos operating the craft’s control surfaces. Davidson explains that the crucial element was the open-source nature of this autopilot option. “Autopilot systems need different features for different applications,” he explains. “That means all those features end up in the software. But we wanted to keep the system as simple as possible for any given application – since it is open source, it means we can take out any features we don’t require. Equally, if necessary, we can add other features.” With the Pixhawk autopilot, UAV Solutions makes its own circuit board (modifying the original design slightly to meet its needs), sources its own sensors – including the necessary gyros – and develops its own software. This allows a higher, officially recognised standard of autopilot system to be obtained, Davidson reports. There is no universal collision avoidance system for UAVs at present. However, optionally an ADS-B (automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast) transponder is carried aboard the 120. This takes the craft’s location from a GPS satellite and sends that data (and more) to the ground control station and to other craft also using an ADS-B transponder (and optionally to an air traffic control centre). Thus can collisions between ADS-B equipped craft be automatically averted. Davidson notes that currently on board the 120 is a GPS antenna, a radio antenna and the data link antenna; the data link is IP-based. “Through that the video comes down, and through it we control the camera system,” he explains. “The next upgrade we are going to do is to remove the 900 control radio link and only fly on the 2.4 GHz IP link. That will simplify the system. “You will be able to use that link to control the craft and to get video from it, and you will be able to control the camera in the gimbal via it. We like to use IP-based links because that allows us to use multiple types of payload. Everything has an IP address, as opposed to serial communication, so we like IP-based radios.” UAV Solutions provides various portable ground control station options for the 120. Ideally a 120 ground control station provides a pair of monitors – one for mission planning, the other for displaying the video stream – and it has a PC embedded in it. Unmanned Systems Technology | Summer 2015 Components of the 120 The 120’s wing sections press together