When performing automatic flight maneuvers with drones, it often becomes necessary to integrate automatic actions beyond flying along a predefined path. It is in that moment when it becomes fundamental to use a control system for a UAV with configurable automatic routines. These automatic routines facilitate operation, permitting the operator to focus on flight monitoring and payload control; it improves effectiveness, reduces operator fatigue, and increases safety.

Some of the most common applications for this kind of automatic routines are: parcel delivery; dropping packets when flying over a predefined point; automating the capture and transmission of video when overflying a given area; in photogrammetry applications, for image capturing from a certain point and at a predefined period; turning on lights when reaching a certain altitude; activation of satellite communications in case of data link loss; pointing a gimbal to a heat source detected by thermal sensors; activation of flares when it is detected a shipwrecked on maritime search and rescue; etc.

This routine automation system also plays a significant role in system security; it permits the configuration of flight exclusion zones and safe flight zones, as well as scheduling automatic routines for fail-safe procedure activation such as: go home, hover flight, ascension, emergency landing, parachute activation… in the case that the system detects a situation of risk: lack of fuel, loss of communications link, onboard fire detection, flying outside the flight envelope…

Configuring automatic routines with Veronte Autopilot 1x

Applications such as the ones described above can be performed completely autonomously in any unmanned aircraft, thanks to Veronte Autopilot 1x. Permitting the execution of automatic actions upon detection of any event, or the combination of multiple of them, there are also AND, OR, and NOT rules available for increased flexibility. Veronte Autopilot 1x can also configure periodic actions to be executed repeatedly in intervals of time, distances, or defined height variations.

Some of the most used actions with the Veronte Autopilot 1x system are:

• Onboard log: Registration of onboard information permits to record flight information within a specific instant.
• Output: Establishes an actuator position or a routine for activating servos, lights, or any device connected to the system.
• Fly to: Fly to a waypoint defined during the mission edition.
• Phase: Changing flight phase, allowing perform actions such as landing, going home…
• Mode: Switch flight mode: automatic, manual, semi-automatic…

The events available for the activation of one or multiple actions in the system are:

• Waypoint: Run an action when reaching a waypoint.
• Variable: Activation at any range in a system variable: datalink quality, battery level, height…
• Mode: When a flight mode is adopted, the action is executed.
• Button: Configure custom buttons in the user interface.
• Alarm: Execution upon activation of a predefined alarm.
• Polygon: It will carry out an action when the aircraft is inside or outside within a defined area.
• Phase: When a flight phase runs, the action is launched.