Fundamentals of unmanned aerial systems

The present course is a core course of the Master. An essentially practical study program has been designed. However, the conceptual or mathematical complexity of fully specialised courses has been avoided.

The course is aimed to enable the students for the selection, configuration and adjustment of professional unmanned aerial vehicles, especially focusing on the radioelectric links, propulsion systems and the selection of On-board instrumentation and pieces of equipment.

The report of the title includes the following contents for this subject:
UAS. Types. Fixed wing and multirotor configurations. The radio link. Electromagnetic spectrum. Radioelectric spectrum. Bands and frequencies for UAS. Antennas Communications. Phraseology. Autopilots. Structure and components. Types of inertial systems and positioning systems. Other sensors. Flight control structure. Electric propulsion systems. Electric motors. Introduction to the design of UAS with electric propulsion. Sizing and simulation. Introduction to the flight of multirotor and fixed wing UAS. Piloting and autonomous flight
And the following Learning Outcomes:
Acquire basic knowledge for the training of UAS operators in aspects related to the aircraft.
Know the design and basic systems of UAS with electric propulsion and its dimensioning.
Learn the basic flight maneuvers in multirotor and fixed wing systems.
These will be developed according to the following:

Theoretical Study Program (20 hours in-person classes, 60 not in-person)

SECTION I: Introduction. Types of UAS. Analysis and assurance of radioelectric links (8 hours)
1. Frequency bands for remote control, video streaming and telemetry
2. Remote control stations
3. Type, selection and receiver configuration
4. Professional transmitters and receivers: specifications and selection criteria.
5. Type, features installation and selection of UAS antennas
6. Video and Telemetry Radio Links

SECTION II: Autopilot and auxiliary systems configuration (4 hours)
1. Architecture and types of autopilots.
2. Autopilot and subsystems configuration


SECTION III: Flight Range, management and dimensioning of the On-Board propulsion and Energy Storage Systems (6 hours).
1. Propulsion System
2. Energy storage systems
3. Estimation of the flight range of a UAS carrying different payloads
4. Flight correction because of environmental conditions: temperature, altitude and wind.

SECTION IV: Tailored cameras for UAS (2 hours)
1. RGB cameras with fixed focal distance for UAS
2. RGB cameras with optical zoom, adjustable from the remote control for UAS
3. Thermal and Thermal-Radiometric cameras
4. Dual cameras
5. Camera-Gimbal Systems
6. Protection Indexes for the vehicle and the On-Board devices
7. Selection criteria for professional products


Practical Study Program (20 hours in-person classes, 40 not in-person)
- Practice 1: design by simulation of a 4-rotor vehicle. The simulated aircraft will completely assembled and flown in practice 5

- Practice 2 (field): Flight training with 2 professional aircrafts. Induction flight in GPS, ATTI y Sport modes (MTOW of the vehicle lower than 5kg). Maximum flight speed during the training 76 km/h. Second training flight with a vehicle of 11.5 kg MTOW (legal classification 2: between 5 and 15 kg): This flight is aimed to industrial inspection training. It will be carried out in GPS and FPV mode with no external visual references.

No adapted textbooks exist for the sections defined in the study program. Recommended material will be uploaded at google docs or similar. It has been developed for Professors and Associate Professors of different sections of the Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications Department of the University of Oviedo.

Basic bibliography
- Legal documents are available in the website of the Spanish National Agency of Aerial Security.
https://www.seguridadaerea.gob.es/es/ambitos/drones/normativa-europea-d…
- Handbook of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Kimon P. Valavanis, George J. Vachtsevanos, Springer. 2015. ISBN: 978-90-481-9707-1
Vergouw, Bas; Nagel, Huub; Bondt, Geert; Custers, Bart (2016), Custers, Bart (ed.), "Drone Technology: Types, Payloads, Applications, Frequency Spectrum Issues and Future Developments", The Future of Drone Use: Opportunities and Threats from Ethical and Legal Perspectives, Information Technology and Law Series, The Hague: T.M.C. Asser Press, pp. 21–45, doi:10.1007/978-94-6265-132-6_2, ISBN 978-94-6265-132-6

Complementary bibliography
- Practical Spread Spectrum Book IV Charles O. Phillips. 1993
- Permanent Magnet Brushless DC Motores Drives and Controls – Chang, liang Xia. 2012
- DIY Lithium Batteries: How to Build Your Own Battery – Mica Toll. 2017
- Introduction to Modern Photogrammetry – Edward M. Mihail. 2001

From the set of skills defined in the assurance report of this master the ones developed in this course are as follows:


Basic Skills:

- CB6 - Possess and understand knowledge that provides a basis or opportunity to be original in the development and / or application of ideas, often in a research context.
- CB7 - That students know how to apply the acquired knowledge and their ability to solve problems in new or unfamiliar environments within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to their area of study.
- CB10 - That students have the learning skills that allow them to continue studying in a way that will have to be largely self-directed or autonomous.

Generic competences:
- CG1. That students acquire general knowledge in unmanned aerial systems engineering.
- CG3 - That the students acquire the capacity to analyze the needs of a company not in the field of two unmanned aerial systems and determine the best technological solution for the same.
- CG4 - That the students acquire the knowledge to develop unmanned aerial systems and plan specific operations, depending on the existing needs and apply the existing technological tools.
- CG5 - That students are able to apply, in the field of unmanned aerial systems, the principles and methodologies of research such as bibliographic searches, data collection and analysis and interpretation of these, as well as presentation of conclusions, in a clear, concise and rigorous way.

Specific skills:
- CE1 - Knowledge about the main systems, the on-board instruments and the control station of an unmanned aircraft, as well as their influence on safety.

Transversal competences:
- CT6 - Ability to work in a team.
- CT8 - Ability to analyze and sit down.
- CT9 - Capacity of critical reasoning and creativity.

- Theoretical clases that can be followed through Teams or similar. (CB6, CB7, CB10, CG1, CG3, CT8)
- Practical lessons, that are performed using TIC. Practice 2 will be done in person and the rest can be followed through Teams or similar. Practice 2 shall be conducted by a practice trip to an aerodrome. (CG4, CG5, CE1, CT6 and CT9)
- Assignments: the students will carry out a study. This assignment may be individual or developed in small groups, accordingly with the number of students enrolled.
- Individual coaching: the teacher will be fully available for the resolution of doubts or queries concerning theory lessons, practices and assignments during the days of the week when the classes are given. Available trought email address, together with the communication methods provided by the virtual campus will be available the rest of the week and once this course has been completed.

Knowledge and abilities acquired by the students will be assessed as follows:

- Brief examination of short questions, in person through microsoft teams or similar or through the virtual campus, (20% of the qualification). Assessment of competences CB6, CB7, CB10, CG1, CG3, CT8
- Correct realization of the practices. (75% of the grade). Assessment of competences CG4, CG5, CE1, CT6 and CT9
-Continued attendance and active participation (5% of the qualification). Assessment of competences CT8.

No score of any evaluable activity will be kept for the next academic year. Minimum grade to pass the course must be 5 or higher.
This evaluation system will be identical in both, the ordinary call of June and the extraordinary call of July.
The students granted with a waiver for any of the teaching activities, according to the instruction 1/2017 of the legal services of the University, must take into account that for passing this course completion of coursework and the realization of the exam is mandatory.

Hereafter, an estimation of the time a student must spend on the different learning activities is presented. Time devoted to in-person classes is shown on the left. After, the individual time of study is estimated.
- Theory Lessons: 24 h, 48 h.
- Practical Lessons: 16 h, 52 h.
- Coaching: 3 h, 4 h. ; From Monday to Friday, coaching is offered to all the students presencially or by teams;
- Evaluation activities 3 h.
- Total: 46 h ; 104 h. =150 hours

The teacher suggest the students the watching of videos regarding the topics of every section prior to the classes. These videos are available in the Teacher´s YouTube Channel:
http://www.youtube.com/c/UASUOUniversidaddeOviedo

Channel is publicity-free and no economic compensation exists for its author. As research results, tests on new aircrafts and other products and documentaries of visits to national and international exhibitions are periodically included, its revision might be useful for the students of both branches.

For cases of fraudulent performance of exercises or tests, the provisions of the "Normativa de avaliación do rendemento académico dos estudantes e de revisión das cualificacións" "(artigo 16 da Resolución de 15/6/2011 da USC, DOG de 21/7/2011)" will apply.