Drone expertise is evolving at a fast tempo, and with it comes the necessity for extra superior, dependable, and user-friendly flight planning software program. On the forefront of this innovation is UgCS, developed by SPH Engineering. To achieve a deeper understanding of the engineering challenges and breakthroughs behind UgCS, we interviewed Kristaps Brass, the corporate’s Product Proprietor and an skilled engineer. Kristaps has been with SPH Engineering since 2014, main discipline checks throughout the globe, coaching clients from Brazil to Australia, and even collaborating in a Greenland expedition. With levels from the Stockholm College of Economics in Riga and Tallinn College of Know-how, Kristaps now leads the UgCS growth staff, striving to make UgCS the premier selection for skilled drone pilots.
Rethinking Terrain-Following: The Delivery of Good AGL
Some of the essential challenges in drone surveying is guaranteeing protected and correct flights over advanced terrain. Kristaps defined, “When doing drone surveying, pilots typically must make the drone observe very difficult terrain. This consists of not solely having to cowl small hills and different terrain elevation adjustments however typically even flying in mountainous areas and close to cliffs.” He famous that conventional flight planning options usually use a hard and fast Above Floor Degree (AGL) strategy, which works properly on light slopes however will be dangerous on steep inclines.
This problem led to the event of the Good AGL algorithm. As Kristaps described, “Good AGL calculates the flight peak taking into consideration not solely what’s under the drone but in addition what’s in entrance of it. This innovation permits drone pilots to make use of UgCS flight planning software program to plan safer flights that may even cowl steep slopes, all whereas amassing correct information.” The Good AGL function exemplifies UgCS’s dedication to addressing real-world points confronted by drone operators.
True Terrain Following: Precision With out Exact DEMs
Correct terrain following is particularly vital for specialised surveys, resembling these utilizing ground-penetrating radar or echosounders. These missions typically require drones to fly extraordinarily near the bottom. Kristaps shared, “Our true terrain following (TTF) system options our SkyHub onboard laptop in addition to an altimeter which makes it potential for the drone to observe the terrain even as little as 1 meter above the bottom. That is obligatory when flying with sensors resembling GPR, echosounders, steel detectors and others.”
He emphasised that this technique is designed for bigger drones carrying heavy payloads, such because the DJI M300, M350, and varied American-made platforms. UgCS comes outfitted with high quality Digital Elevation Mannequin (DEM) information, and for U.S. pilots, even higher-resolution DEMs can be found. “It comes with different vital options resembling capacity to regulate the decision of terrain following, trajectory slope and lots of extra,” Kristaps added.
3D Flight Planning: Managing Complexity with a Gaming Engine
Trendy drone missions typically require integrating a number of information layers, which will be computationally demanding. Kristaps defined, “UgCS is constructed on a gaming engine, giving it a novel benefit out there of drone software program. Due to this, UgCS can simply deal with displaying a number of map overlays in addition to digital terrain and floor fashions.”
He highlighted a latest development: “Just lately we added the chance to make use of a digital floor mannequin (DSM) separate from the digital terrain mannequin (DTM). This permits pilots to plan their missions with a relentless altitude with respect to the bottom degree, all whereas guaranteeing that the drone will probably be at a protected distance above treetops and buildings.” This flexibility is essential for protected operations in city and forested environments.
Smoother Trajectories for Delicate Sensors
Some drone surveys, resembling magnetic and LiDAR mapping, require particularly clean flight paths. Kristaps mentioned the engineering behind UgCS’s trajectory smoothing algorithm: “The trajectory smoothing algorithm permits customers to set an actual slope angle in addition to gaps that the drone ought to skip. This smoothes out the flight trajectory (particularly when mixed with Good AGL). That is particularly vital when flying with delicate sensors resembling magnetometer, which are sometimes hanging on ropes under the drone. Smoother flight for the sensor results in higher ensuing information and fewer time wanted for processing.”
Navigating Engineering Commerce-Offs: Security, Accuracy, and Effectivity
Growing terrain-following options for excessive environments requires balancing security, accuracy, and effectivity. Kristaps defined, “What works greatest in these conditions is giving the customers the instruments of their fingers. When flying in excessive environments they’ll select between utilizing an altimeter with on-board processing or counting on a extremely correct DEM.”
He emphasised the pliability UgCS provides: “Any route deliberate in UgCS will be transformed into separate waypoints, giving the consumer full management round any a part of the mission.” This strategy ensures that pilots can adapt to a variety of mission necessities and environmental challenges.
Dealing with Excessive-Decision Elevation Knowledge
The accuracy of flight path calculations is determined by the decision of elevation information. Kristaps famous, “By default UgCS makes use of 1 arc second (30m) SRTM information worldwide. Just lately we added ⅓ (10m) elevation information for our clients within the USA from the USGS database. Customers may also load their very own elevation information (DEM) with a most decision of 1 m.”
He additionally identified the sensible limits: “Datasets with larger decision than 1 m get downscaled to 1 m since that’s in regards to the restrict of accuracy wanted for drone flights. Something under that offers diminishing marginal returns when weighing elevated flight accuracy towards processing energy wanted for trajectory calculations for giant missions.”
Integrating with Numerous {Hardware}
Integrating terrain-following options throughout completely different drone platforms and altimeter applied sciences presents distinctive challenges. Kristaps mirrored, “After we began out with our true terrain following programs, we relied on laser altimeter expertise. Nevertheless, quickly after that we discovered that one measurement doesn’t match all. Whereas laser altimeters permit customers to very precisely fly even at larger altitudes, they do fall quick when flying over reflective surfaces resembling water, snow or dense fog. These downsides…are addressed by our radar altimeter.”
He added, “DJI and Ardupilot are two completely different beasts. DJI drones are nice and permit us to simply combine via their SDK. On this case the onboard altimeter works via our SkyHub laptop. The mountings are standardized. Ardupilot drones, whereas being open-source, are typically based mostly on very completely different frames, every of which wants a separate mount for the altimeter. Within the case of Ardupilot, the altimeter will get related on to the autopilot.”
Balancing Superior Options with Person Accessibility
UgCS has advanced considerably through the years, balancing technical sophistication with consumer accessibility. Kristaps defined, “UgCS has been out there for round 12 years now and has gone via a number of evolution and adjustments, all impressed by suggestions from our customers. With the discharge of UgCS 5.0 final 12 months, we’ve gone via important UI redesign in comparison with the earlier model, making it extra user-friendly for brand spanking new customers whereas retaining the options vital for present customers.”
He additionally mentioned the philosophy behind new options: “With the discharge of UgCS 5.11 we’re making it quicker and extra easy for customers to get their deliberate missions delivered to them. With this model we’re introducing UgCS Cloud. This function permits all routes to routinely sync from the pc to the drone’s distant controller. Not solely does this make fieldwork quicker for pilots, it additionally makes it simpler for groups to work collectively, sharing deliberate routes throughout units.”
Trying Forward: The Way forward for Drone Flight Planning
The world of drone surveying is dynamic and requires fixed adaptation. Kristaps summed up the UgCS philosophy: “The world of drone surveys is one that’s fast-moving and a staff sport. We perceive the significance of comfort, fast deployment and fast teamwork. And that is what we’re addressing subsequent.”
UgCS continues to push the boundaries of drone flight planning, combining technical innovation with real-world practicality, and setting new requirements for skilled drone pilots worldwide.
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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, an expert drone providers market, and a fascinated observer of the rising drone trade and the regulatory setting for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles targeted on the business drone house and is a global speaker and acknowledged determine within the trade. Miriam has a level from the College of Chicago and over 20 years of expertise in excessive tech gross sales and advertising and marketing for brand spanking new applied sciences.
For drone trade consulting or writing, E mail Miriam.
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