Unmanned Systems Technology 009 | Ocean Aero Submaran S10 | Simulation and testing | Farnborough report | 3W-110xi b2 TS HFE FI | USVs | Data storage | Eurosatory/UGS 2016 report

10 Platform one August/September 2016 | Unmanned Systems Technology Milrem and Leica Geosystems have teamed up to develop an off-road capable hybrid UGV with a multi-sensor platform for commercial and government applications including civil engineering surveys in hazardous environments and automated security patrols with disturbance detection capability (writes Peter Donaldson). The Pegasus:Multiscope is a 79 in- long tracked vehicle with a top speed of 22 mph, a base curb weight of 1985 lb, a payload of 1655 lb, a low ground pressure of 0.98-1.635 psi and the ability to turn around in its own length. It can also climb a 45° incline, traverse difficult terrain including mud, sand and snow and generate a towing force of 11,000 N. Power comes from a diesel generator, lithium-ion battery packs and graphene ultracapacitors that enable it to operate for up to 10 hours. Configured with a single scanning Lidar, calibrated cameras and, optionally, thermal imaging, Pegasus:Multiscope can generate 3D point clouds and, using the calibrated cameras in combination with Leica MapFactory for AutoCAD can detect changes as small as 2-3 cm while carrying out automated security patrols along programmed routes. In civil engineering, likely uses include traversing unstable river banks during surveys for dam construction, and inspecting dangerous mine workings or contaminated power generation sites, while in large-scale farming operations the companies envisage it being used for smart monitoring of field drainage and crop ripeness. Ground vehicles The Pegasus:Multiscope is powered by a diesel generator, batteries and ultracapacitors Off-road UGV in pipeline An augmented reality (AR) software developer in the UK has teamed up with Internet of Things (IoT) specialist Jig-Saw in Japan to embed 3D computer vision in standard hardware modules (writes Nick Flaherty). Kudan develops an AR engine that can be used for computer vision applications in unmanned craft and the IoT. The technology uses any 2D camera sensor and is platform- and camera- independent, so it can be easily ported to embedded modules. The AR engine, called KudanCV, does not require specific processor hardware such as GPUs, and can run on an ARM Coretex-M0+ core, said John Williams, chief technology officer at Kudan. “We are not limited to any particular form of computer vision,” he said. ”We handle detection and tracking, 3D depth perception, and finding and tracking pre-recognised images with an unlimited number of points.” KudanCV also handles most operations internally without having to go to the operating system or the cloud. Applications include simultaneous location and mapping (SLAM) to provide position data when navigation such as GPS doesn’t work. Seeing in 3D using 2D tech Machine vision