Title
UAV Consumable Replenishment: Design Concepts for Automated Service Stations
Abstract
A key requirement for the complete autonomy of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is the replenishment of its energy source and other consumables. Such processes are typically overseen and conducted by a human operator, may be time consuming and effectively reduce the operating range of the system. To satisfy the requirements of UAV customers such as military surveillance networks, that seek faster, broader and more fully autonomous systems, and hobbyists, who seek to avoid the hassle associated with changing the fuel source, we develop automated energy recharging systems. Focusing on battery operated remote control helicopters, we employ the Axiomatic Design methodology to develop design concepts of platforms to act as automatic service stations. We propose three station designs for refilling platforms and one concept for battery exchange platforms. In addition, we analyze the economic feasibility of automatic consumable replenishment stations, consider two types of station (container refilling and container exchange) and discuss the application of these systems. Refilling platforms better suit low coverage unmanned aerial systems (UAS) while exchange stations allow high coverage with fewer UAVs.
Year
DOI
Venue
2011
10.1007/s10846-010-9502-z
Journal of Intelligent and Robotic Systems
Keywords
Field
DocType
uav consumable replenishment,automated energy,automatic consumable replenishment station,automated service stations,exchange station,container exchange,unmanned aerial vehicles · automated consumable replenishment · service stations · axiomatic design · enabling technologies · autonomy,container refilling,refilling platform,battery exchange platform,design concepts,uav customer,automatic service station,energy source,remote control,satisfiability,autonomy,axiomatic design
Economic feasibility,Remote control,Axiomatic design,Human operator,Systems engineering,Consumables,Control engineering,Autonomous system (Internet),Engineering,Energy source,Battery (electricity),Embedded system
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
61
1-4
1573-0409
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
12
0.97
4
Authors
3
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
F. Paulo Kemper1120.97
Koji A. Suzuki2392.53
James R. Morrison319526.43