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AETHER:

Swarm Drones For


Search And Rescue
Aswin Daniel
Balasubramaniam Hickman
Electrical Engineering Technology, 2019 Information Technology, 2020

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Value Proposition
It’s all about saving lives!
How swarm drones assist in search and rescue:

Reduce time in search and rescue Can map out the terrain

Deploys quickly from vehicle Can identify human heat signatures

Swarm recharges in the air Identifies areas of interest

Flies over difficult terrain Real time streaming from drone

Covers a large area in a single flight Does not endanger the lives of rescuers

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Insight into Operational
Concept
Assumptions
Assumptions
● CONCEPT:
● Used for Search and Rescue
● Can quickly deploy, scan, and analyze area
● Secures footage/data

● FEATURES:
● Detects heat signatures and areas of interest
● Can fly in inclement weather
● Uses the latest technology for greatest performance

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Mission Profile
Mission Profile
1. First Responder 2. Plans Mission 3. Connects 4. Uploads
Arrives at scene. on Tablet Tablet to GCS Mission to Aether

VTOL

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Mission Profile
5. Surveys area 6. Swarm drones
7. Hovers over Waits for landing
as per mission maintain a distance confirmation
base.
of 50 feet from from GCS

base drone
8. Lands.

- Climb to
mission height
- Transmits
video feed to
GCS

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Ground Station Concept
Ground Station Concept
Secure long-range
receivers

Secure long-range
transmitters Touchscreen display

GCS and UAV battery life


indicator

External power supply External output


port peripherals

Laptop/Table docking
station
Remote controller Built-in rechargeable
docking station LiPo batteries

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Ground Station Concept
● Hardware:
● Software:
○ Laptop/Table Dock
○ Digital flight instrument readings
○ Ext. Peripheral
○ Secure end-end communication
■ USB ports
channels
■ Ethernet port
■ A/V ports ○ Encryption of storage device that
record data
○ Touchscreen Display
○ Custom flight planning application
○ Long range comm. antennas
○ Custom image recognition
○ Rechargeable LiPo batteries
○ Automated flight report generator.
○ 10-32 VDC output
○ Live streaming of video from 5
○ Powered by external generator
swarm drone
○ Secure cellular network
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Legal Issues
Legal Issues
● FAA Part 107 Regulations
○ Operation of drones beyond visual line of sight
Since the scope of the project lines within the interests for
benefiting the public, exceptions will have to be put in place.
Within this exception Remote Pilots can operate UAVs beyond
visual line of sight, if the situation presented endangers a
person’s or public’s life
● Operation of multiple drones by one remote pilot
As mentioned above exception will have to be put in place to
benefit the public.
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Legal Issues
● Flying close to sensitive areas
○ If the search is being conducted in an area close to an airport or
a military base it would be difficult to operate drones.
○ Signal jammers placed around these areas would cause issues
when streaming video, or controlling the drone.

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Privacy
Privacy
● Public stigma against drones
○ Try to keep legislation restricting UAVs from passing
○ Advocate the need for UAVs in emergencies

● Many states require warrants for police to use UAVs

● Search and Rescue is given special case exception

● Ohio legislation is relatively friendly

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Privacy
● Encrypted video feed

● Securely store data

● Restrict access: principle of least privilege

● Delete footage once no longer needed

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Maintenance Concept
Maintenance Concept
● Inspection and maintenance is key
to drone safety.
● Proper maintenance improves
economic efficiency of the drones.
(less downtime = more economical)
● Provide spare parts and instruction
manuals to troubleshoot top level
hardware.
● Include CAD files and instructions
to 3D print the small swarm drones.

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Maintenance Concept
● FAA licensed personnel to provide on-site maintenance support
● Earn FAA approval to inspect, maintain, and modify drones.
● Conduct online and in-person seminars/workshops to educate
users about the system.
● Provide lifetime warranty on the products, and paid upgrades
● Provide online and telephone troubleshooting services

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Quality Assurance for
Safe & Reliable
Operations
Quality Assurance
● Pre-flight check

● Post-flight check

● Routine equipment checks

● Requiring certified operator

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Quality Assurance
● Test software by trying to break it.
○ Put in failsafes that prevent a dangerous flight plan.

● Test the limits of our solution:


○ How durable are the UAVs not in flight?
○ How spread out can the swarm function?
○ What is its range (from GCS)?
○ How long until one of the nano’s batteries die?
○ What weather can it fly in?

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Thanks!
Any questions?

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