College of Engineering Unit:
The Stereo-Video Equipped Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (SVC UAV) project is a team of engineering students designing and building a drone mounted stereo-video system for measuring objects such as marine wildlife. The initial application is collecting morphological data for ecological studies of green sea turtles, though the system has broader commercial applications. Knowing an animal’s morphology is valuable data for ecological studies and can help to infer other information, such as food consumption, body mass, and population health. The two-camera system works on the principals of stereo-photogrammetry, using triangulation to calculate 3D points. Two or more 3D points are used to calculate a length. The calibration, video management, and measurements are done in the custom Python software utilizing the OpenCV library. The advantages of the technology are its low cost and versatility compared to existing hardware systems and the custom software is easy to use relative to the industry standard.
Two prototypes were created throughout the project. An initial prototype determined design parameters and tested the functionality of the electronics. The final prototype achieves minimal impact on the drone’s flight with potential for high accuracy. The design is compact and easy to detach from the drone with leg mounted cameras and the processor attached on top of the drone body.
The final software design follows usability heuristics aimed at providing a user-friendly experience to new users. The software is intuitive to navigate with a modern minimal aesthetic. The tab based navigation structure mitigates information overload but provides comprehensive functionality.
Project Website(s):
Industry Sponsor(s):
| Attachment | Size |
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 aero.07.poster.pdf | 1.41 MB |