Abstract
This paper presents an airflow vector sensor for drones. Drones are expected to play a role in various industrial fields. However, the further improvement of flight stability is a significant issue. In particular, compact drones are more affected by wind during flight. Thus, it is desirable to detect air current directly by an airflow sensor and feedback to the control. In the case of a drone in flight, the sensor should detect wind velocity and direction, particularly in the horizontal direction, for a sudden crosswind. In addition, the sensor must also be small, light, and highly sensitive. Here, we propose a compact spherical airflow sensor for drones. Three highly sensitive microelectromechanical system (MEMS) differential pressure (DP) sensor chips were built in the spherical housing as the sensor elements. The 2D wind direction and velocity can be measured from these sensor elements. The fabricated airflow sensor was attached to a small toy drone. It was demonstrated that the sensor provided an output corresponding to the wind velocity and direction when horizontal wind was applied via a fan while the drone was flying. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed sensor will be helpful for directly measuring the air current for a drone in flight.
Highlights
In recent years, drones, in the class of unmanned airplanes, have been developed for many applications; for example, they are expected to deliver medicine, vaccines, and other medical devices [1,2]
The proposed sensor consisted of hemispherical housings and a substrate with microelectromechanical system (MEMS) differential pressure (DP) sensors
Three pairs of inlets were formed on the spherical surface, and each DP sensor detected the DP applied to the corresponding pair of inlets
Summary
Drones, in the class of unmanned airplanes, have been developed for many applications; for example, they are expected to deliver medicine, vaccines, and other medical devices [1,2]. Wind velocity is directly measured as a force; it is not suitable for miniaturization because of the sensitivity threshold due to mechanical friction. A hair-cell type sensor directly measures wind velocity and direction [7]. An ultrasonic-type sensor measures wind velocity and direction from the to propagation time between an outdoor use where many objects are subjected wind forces. The sensor achieves high accuracy; howmeasures wind velocity and direction from the propagation time variation between an ever, it is difficult to make it and morereceiver compact andThe lesssensor expensive because measurement ultrasonic wave transmitter achieves high the accuracy; system is complicated. Hot-wire type sensor wind in velocity and direction high sor output isby affected by the temperature humidityin of ambient the measurement environment.
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