Research

The continuous development of the payload options and adapter options are our primary goal in all development projects. Numerous studies and field tests lead towards ever more precise and more effective payload. Whether it is the more stable video image or the more reliable gas measurements. We are always looking to get the best results for our clients. I won't get any results to have a "beautiful" flying platform, when the sensor below does not provide useful results. Therefore, besides the major effort to develop a more stable and highly reliable flight platform, we are always thinking about the payload. What is the use of an eye in the sky with only limited vision.

microdrone ready for use on high voltage lines - power line inspection by UAV

md4-200 in the test laboratory for high voltage interference at the TU Dresden

For safe and trouble-free use on high voltage lines the microdrone was tested in  Hosch voltage laboratory of the TU Dresden to "thoroughly" under influence of high voltage to 380 kV. The microdrone should be used in reviewing the technical equipment of high voltage power lines. For this purpose it is necessary to fly as close to the power lines and poles to be able to identify even the slightest damage to insulators, cables and other components.

For a safe flight, it is essential that all navigation and control systems work properly and reliably. Therefore the microdrone is equipped with multiple sensors which are operating independently from each other: GPS, barometer, magnetometer and an inertial measurement unit. For the ground control all relevant telemetry data is transmitted to the ground using the radio control unit, as well as live images from the camera or video camera. These data lines must always work interference-free.

In the high-voltage laboratory of the TU Dresden a testing environment for studying the convergence of microdrone has been built to a high voltage overhead line. Therefore, the microdrone this was mounted about 5 m in height on a mobile platform, which was pushed starting with a distance of 10 m at the head of a bundle of 380 kV double-hanging chain. The shortest distance was 3m. With this practical experimental setup the influence of the electric field strength on all the sensors and control functions was tested.

In another experimental set-up afterwards the influence of the magnetic field strength was tested.