New Release: OnPoint™ Targeting v2.0 now available. OnPoint brings precision target Tracking, Geo-Localization (GPS lat/lon to within 3-5m), and video Stabilization,available on higher-end UAV platforms, to small inexpensive UAVs.

• New GUI, easier to use
• Configurable, dockable windows
• New TiVo-style scrubbing, playback, record, pause
• Kalman filter target estimator
• Change Coordinates, Units, Alt Mode on the fly
• Still shot images show up in Virtual Cockpit
• Export snap shots
• Distribute video sessions

Auto-Tracking a Moving Vehicle, Mosaicing, Click 'n Fly
Loiter, Zoom, Virtual Hover, Man track
OnPoint from Helicopter platform (Kestrel 3.0 avionics)


OnPoint is available for the Kestrel Autopilot System and provides a vision-centric focus to UAV guidance and control - easy to use vision-based "click and drag" operation to fly the UAV

In addition, the Kestrel Autopilot System provides Smart Loiters and GPS gimbal targeting. See below.

 



 

 

 

OnPoint Capabilities:

1. Target Tracking – single click

Single click - gimbal locks on - UAV follows autonomously – target’s stats provided.

The user can acquire and track a moving target with a single click. The gimbal locks onto the object, a cross-hair appears and box is drawn around the target (box size can be changed by user) providing the user with visualization of the tracked object, and the UAV autonomously follows.

While tracking the target, our Localization algorithms provide the user with the moving target’s heading, velocity, and estimated GPS location.

Human size targets can be tracked as well. 

2. Target Localization

Vision-based target localization allows the user to obtain GPS coordinates of desired ground targets.  Within one revolution over the target, our vision-based localization algorithms provide the user with the GPS position of fixed the target to within 3-5m, often much less.  We’re using commercial GPS receivers.

3. Stabilization (and Hover Mode)

One of the key underlying technologies that make localization and tracking compelling and useful is the ability to stabilize the video stream in real time.  This offers greater visual appeal and importantly it provides the user with greater precision in acquiring targets.  In addition, Hover Mode is an option that allows the user to observe a scene in essentially a “stand still” mode, much like what you would see from a helicopter’s perspective.

4. Click n’ Fly

When viewing stabilized video through the OnPoint Targeting application, the ground station operator may, at any time, click within the video and the UAV will proceed to fly to the location the operator clicked, keeping the gimbaled camera pointing at that location. In this scenario, the operator need only watch video and click on points of interest and OnPoint and the Kestrel autopilot will take care of pointing the gimbal, geo-location and UAV navigation.

Download:   Procerus_OnPoint_Targeting.pdf

 

The Kestrel Autopilot System is capable of flying and managing multiple aircraft at the same time (we’ve flown 5 and 6 at a time) from one Virtual Cockpit / Commbox ground control station.  With a GPS unit in the ground station, UAVs know the position, moving or fixed, of the ground station, which allows them to follow the ground station if it moving. (ie, such as in a convoy) If the “convoy” slows or stops, the UAVs enter a holding pattern, poised and ready to continue the convoy following route once the convoy begins to move again. All of this is autonomous.

Leveraging this underlying foundational capability, new features have been added that allow the operator to set desired behaviors of each UAV with respect to distance from, and relative position and heading of, the convoy.

Application:  Force Protection / Surveillance

An obvious application for our Tracking, Localization, Stabilization capabilities would be a force protection, observations scenarios where you may have multiple observers in the air to protect a string of vehicles in convoy.




Smart Loiters:
Using forward or side look fixed cameras and gimbal cameras the user can center an object/target in their field-of-view (FOV) and click "Loiter Now". The Kestrel will place a loiter point at that location and direct the UAV to it. It then calculates the optimal radius and enters the loiter, keeping the object in the center of the FOV. Terrain Elevation Data is utilized to maximize accuracy.



Smart Loiter - forward looking camera (9.7 MB)
Smart Loiter - gimbal camera (12.2 MB)

GPS Gimbal Targeting:
Users can instruct the autopilot to "Target Gimbal Here" on the map.  A cross hair is automatically placed on the target - the gimbal remains locked on to that GPS location independent of flight path.

You can easily “click-n-drag” the cross hair to new targets as desired. The gimbal follows & locks on independent of flight path.  Terrain Elevation Data is utilized to maximize accuracy.

The gimbal is stabilized by the autopilot’s IMU, thereby reducing the large oscillations that often accompany small UAVs.
The gimbal can also be used to geo-locate objects with a single click.




Click here for GPS Targeting - gimbal camera (12 MB)




Procerus Technologies interfaces to a number of different EO gimbaled and fixed cameras and is currently developing of a non-mechanical digital PTZ gimbal. Advantages include no moving parts that can get damaged on a hard impact landing as well as onboard video stabilization.

In addition to the non-zoom, mechanical gimbal (BTC40) that Procerus supports and sell, an 88mm gimbal turret is also available that contains a Sony block 10X zoom camera, in either retractable or non-retractable versions. Tech Sheets and video can be seen below

Gimbal Camera Tech Sheets:
BTC40R Gimbal - Retractable. 97gram. pan / tilt
BTC88R Gimbal - Retractable. 220gram. Sony 10x zoom.
BTC101R Gimbal - DRS E3500 IR or Sony FCB-IX 10x zoom camera available. Retractable or non.


88R Gimbal Video:
Pan Tilt Zoom - non stabilized
Pan Tilt Zoom - stabilized using OnPoint Targeting





A new landing mode has been recently added to the Kestrel autopilot called Deep Stall Landing. With this capability a UAV can land in a much smaller area. The video below demonstrates this capability.

Deep Stall Landing