Failsafe Module for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

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Failsafe Module for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
Lai Nguyen Jesse Xi Chen CMPE 490 Design Project2010w
Abstract
Our objective is to implement a failsafe module
for an UAV designed by the University of Alberta
Aerial Robotics Group (UAARG). The UVA is design
for a competition involving navigating through
various GPS way points and taking surveillance
footages. Our fail-safe module will ensure that
the autonomous aircraft will fly in a pre-defined
manner in case of failure from the computerized
autopilot and lost contact from back up RC
controller.
Pulse Width Signal
We need to detect the pulse width signal
generated from the receiver and determine if
whether we still have valid contact with the
controller. If the controller is turned off,
receiver will generate pulses with random width
and fail-safe module will switch in to gliding
state.
RC Controller and Receiver
The RC Controller will transmit the user inputs
as RF signals. The receiver will de-multiplex and
convert the RF signal into pulse width modulated
signals. The servo motors on the airplane will
change its position depending on the signals
passed from the receiver. One of the receiver
signal will control what mode should the
fail-safe module operate in.
Implementation
Both HW and SW solution for the objective was
created. The HW solution involves loading the
written VHDL code onto the FPGA board, which in
turn control the output. SW solution have an
extra long-distance operating mode than the HW
solution.
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering