Ascending Technologies and Research Opportunities with Flying Robots

Abstract:
They will present the design of a highly flexible quadcopter platform and the software tools used in an example experiment to show unlimited flight time of an MAV with laser power beaming. They describe the mechanical design as well as the flight control system architecture, which are focused on easy adaption to a wide variety of experiments. It also includes size, payload and flight time considerations and explains the tools to adapt the vehicle to the specific application. The design of a position control system is implemented on the microprocessor hardware using a specially developed framework for MATLAB/Simulink and is described as well. The robustness of the overall system as well as of the presented position control structure is proven by the result of the 12:27h continuous flight with a 1 kg MAV.

In addition, they will be discussing the company they founded, Ascending Technologies. Ascending Technologies GmbH (ASC) was founded in January 2007 and quickly became one of the most innovative companies in Multi-Rotor-UAVs and is today located in Krailling close to Munich. 15 people working full time at ASC created a product portfolio that covers the weight range from 400g (AscTec Hornet) to 6.5kg (AscTec Falcon 12). UAVs are mainly used in professional and research applications by fire fighters, police forces, aerial photographers, industrial inspectors, security and environmental companies, Universities and research institutes worldwide. AscTec UAVs were awarded first places and best mission awards in three major UAV competitions (MAV08, EMAV08 and IARC2009) in cooperation with MIT, Cambridge and DLR, Oberpfaffenhofen. In 2010 ASC demonstrated the hovering UAV endurance record in cooperation with LaserMotive LLC, Kent, WA by flying for 12:27h by laser power beaming. Key Persons of the company are the four founders and managers Michael Achtelik, Klaus-Michael Doth, Daniel Gurdan, Jan Stumpf. All four have an engineering background and are the core of the engineering team and ensure that the company management is driven by technical innovations. http://www.asctec.de/home-en