Autonomous 4-rotor Helicopter 10 m-range Movement Control System by Using Two Search Lights and the Evaluation

In the present study, 10 m-range autonomous 4 rotor helicopter movement control system by using two search lights was proposed, and the autonomous flight test evaluation was performed. In order to realize over 10 m long distance flight of the drone under unstable GPS signal situations such as under the bridge or inside tunnels for the periodic inspection, the correct self-position measurement is indispensable for stable control. Our aim of this study is to propose a simple method of over 10 m range autonomous 4 rotor helicopter movement control using high power 100V AC two search lights as InfraRed sources on the ground and the direction of the searchlights were decided beforehand to the investigation target position such as bridge side. High power light sources of the two search lights are enabled to measure the correct drone position, and it realizes the helicopter autonomous 15 m control within standard deviation 0.12 m in a corridor. Our proposed method would be effective in the situation that there is no skilled the drone control operator and the flight by visual confirmation of man are hard conditions.