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 realize 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 assessments throughout the globe, coaching prospects from Brazil to Australia, and even taking part 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 group, striving to make UgCS the premier selection for skilled drone pilots.
Rethinking Terrain-Following: The Beginning of Sensible AGL
Some of the important challenges in drone surveying is guaranteeing protected and correct flights over advanced terrain. Kristaps defined, “When doing drone surveying, pilots typically should make the drone observe very difficult terrain. This consists of not solely having to cowl small hills and different terrain elevation modifications however typically even flying in mountainous areas and close to cliffs.” He famous that conventional flight planning options usually use a set Above Floor Degree (AGL) method, which works effectively on mild slopes however may be dangerous on steep inclines.
This problem led to the event of the Sensible AGL algorithm. As Kristaps described, “Sensible AGL calculates the flight peak taking into consideration not solely what’s under the drone but additionally 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 accumulating correct information.” The Sensible AGL characteristic 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 very necessary for specialised surveys, comparable to 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 pc 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 mandatory when flying with sensors comparable to GPR, echosounders, steel detectors and others.”
He emphasised that this method 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 necessary options comparable to means to regulate the decision of terrain following, trajectory slope and plenty of extra,” Kristaps added.
3D Flight Planning: Managing Complexity with a Gaming Engine
Fashionable drone missions typically require integrating a number of information layers, which may 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 current development: “Just lately we added the likelihood 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 can 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, comparable to magnetic and LiDAR mapping, require particularly easy flight paths. Kristaps mentioned the engineering behind UgCS’s trajectory smoothing algorithm: “The trajectory smoothing algorithm permits customers to set a precise slope angle in addition to gaps that the drone ought to skip. This smoothes out the flight trajectory (particularly when mixed with Sensible AGL). That is particularly necessary when flying with delicate sensors comparable to 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
Creating 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 flexibleness UgCS provides: “Any route deliberate in UgCS may be transformed into separate waypoints, giving the consumer full management round any a part of the mission.” This method ensures that pilots can adapt to a variety of mission necessities and environmental challenges.
Dealing with Excessive-Decision Elevation Information
The accuracy of flight path calculations will depend on 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 prospects within the USA from the USGS database. Customers also can load their very own elevation information (DEM) with a most decision of 1 m.”
He additionally identified the sensible limits: “Datasets with greater decision than 1 m get downscaled to 1 m since that’s concerning the restrict of accuracy wanted for drone flights. Something under that provides diminishing marginal returns when weighing elevated flight accuracy towards processing energy wanted for trajectory calculations for big missions.”
Integrating with Numerous {Hardware}
Integrating terrain-following options throughout totally different drone platforms and altimeter applied sciences presents distinctive challenges. Kristaps mirrored, “Once we began out with our true terrain following methods, we relied on laser altimeter expertise. Nevertheless, quickly after that we realized that one measurement doesn’t match all. Whereas laser altimeters enable customers to very precisely fly even at greater altitudes, they do fall quick when flying over reflective surfaces comparable to water, snow or dense fog. These downsides…are addressed by our radar altimeter.”
He added, “DJI and Ardupilot are two totally 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 pc. The mountings are standardized. Ardupilot drones, whereas being open-source, are typically based mostly on very totally 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 developed considerably over time, 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 modifications, all impressed by suggestions from our customers. With the discharge of UgCS 5.0 final 12 months, we’ve gone via vital UI redesign in comparison with the earlier model, making it extra user-friendly for brand new customers whereas retaining the options necessary for present customers.”
He additionally mentioned the philosophy behind new options: “With the discharge of UgCS 5.11 we’re making it sooner and extra easy for customers to get their deliberate missions delivered to them. With this model we’re introducing UgCS Cloud. This characteristic permits all routes to robotically sync from the pc to the drone’s distant controller. Not solely does this make fieldwork sooner for pilots, it additionally makes it simpler for groups to work collectively, sharing deliberate routes throughout units.”
Wanting 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 group 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, knowledgeable drone providers market, and a fascinated observer of the rising drone business and the regulatory setting for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles centered on the business drone house and is a world speaker and acknowledged determine within the business. 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 new applied sciences.
For drone business consulting or writing, E mail Miriam.
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