Voice of America: Drones on a leash
UC designs semi-autonomous drone that can be operated on a tether
Voice of America in Russia highlighted the University of Cincinnati's innovations with tethered drones.
UC College of Engineering and Applied Science professor Manish Kumar and his doctoral student Shraddha Barawkar designed a semi-autonomous navigation system that enables drones to remain stable in the sky in turbulent winds or when pulled by the tether attached to the ground.
The goal is to create an easy-to-operate drone for all the myriad uses where an eye in the sky would be beneficial.
UC’s custom navigation system uses artificial intelligence based on fuzzy logic, a type of computer decision making that relies on degrees of truth rather than a binary true-false dichotomy. This makes it a more robust system because no precise inputs are required.
Kumar demonstrated the system in his lab using a four-rotor drone called a quadcopter attached to a wooden rod. When Kumar pushed or pulled the rod, the drone automatically tilted in the same direction, maintaining its stability and position in the air.
“The way we fly kites, we can fly drones,” Barawkar said.
UC College of Engineering and Applied Science professor Manish Kumar talks in his flight lab. Photo/Ravenna Rutledge/UC Creative + Brand
Related Stories
UC welcomes Microsoft to the 1819 Innovation Hub
December 6, 2024
Microsoft has joined the 1819 Innovation Hub at the University of Cincinnati, as reported by the Cincinnati Business Courier.
Physicists outline next 10 years of neutrino research
December 6, 2024
News media highlight a paper co-written by UC physicists that outlines the next 10 years of research into some of the tiniest known particles. Upcoming experiments could unlock secrets to the origins of the universe.
Election results show potential of prediction markets, blockchain
December 6, 2024
A prediction market was more accurate in forecasting the 2024 presidential election than traditional polls and pundits. The potential displayed by that success in forecasting the election, along with an administration friendlier to cryptocurrencies, could lead to greater adoption for them, a University of Cincinnati economist said. Michael Jones, PhD, a Carl H. Lindner College of Business assistant professor of economics and director of the Cryptoeconomics Lab at UC Digital Futures, said the success of a blockchain-based prediction market, Polymarket, in predicting the outcome of the election showed that cryptocurrencies and blockchain technologies have more potential than just investments.