UAV Design and Construction for Real Time Photogrammetry and Visual Navigation

A unmanned aerial vehicles applications in photogrammetry have increased rapidly last years. A fast data gathering and processing in real time in some cases become crucial and desired in some application. In the paper, a real time solution is proposed. A real time photogrammetry from UAV is proposed, where image data are gathered and processed on board UAV and finally reconstructed 3D model and measurements are delivered. The paper presents the design of sUAV (small unmanned air vehicle) for real time photogrammetry, visual navigation, real-time spectral data processing. Construction is based on newly designed quadcopter frame based on the experience and previous research, using CAD/CAM. No image data are transferred out of the board and overall photogrammetry process is calculated on board. Finally three dimensional measurements are delivered to the user in the same time, as sUAV flies, or in specified time just after the sUAV has landed.