Fach: Informatik/Physik
This project has given me an insight into the many challenges that arise in the development of an autonomous vehicle.
Abstract
The use of drones in commercial delivery has long been announced, but the challenging task of engineering a drone that is capable of commercial delivery has prevented it from becoming a reality. The ideal delivery drone is engineered with profitability, safety, and privacy in mind. However, the latter is often disregarded, and cameras are commonly used to detect obstacles.
This paper details the engineering, construction, and programming of a fully autonomous drone with privacy concerns in mind. The distinctive characteristic in this approach is the use of a single 360°-Lidar instead of cameras to avoid obstacles in an unknown environment. The parts used to build the drone were selected based on calculations to optimise flight time. The programming part encompasses take-off, navigation, landing, and obstacle avoidance. The program is written in the programming language C++ and was developed with the help of a simulation. The paper concludes that the system is able to fulfil its task under the given limitations. However, more sensors are required for an industrial-grade solution.
