Autonomous UAV Development, by TUBITAK

A quadcopter for the 5th TUBITAK UAV Competition featured autonomous flight, image-based object detection, and involved design, production, programming, aerodynamic analysis, and specialized electronics.

The primary objective of this project was to engineer a quadcopter capable of autonomously completing designated tasks aligned with the criteria of the 5th TUBITAK International UAV Competition. The tasks involved sophisticated maneuvers requiring image processing capabilities. The quadcopter was designed to identify and interact with a distinct red circular area through image recognition. It had to extract water from a specified location and transport it to the identified red zone, subsequently releasing the water.

The autonomous quadcopter designed for the 5th TUBITAK International UAV Competition.

Throughout this endeavor, my involvement spanned various critical facets of the project, including design, production, analysis, and software development. Key contributions included the comprehensive design and modeling of the quadcopter frame and essential subsystems using Solidworks. Aerodynamic analyses were conducted by referencing pertinent literature and leveraging online tools to ensure optimal performance.

I played a pivotal role in the electronic integration phase, contributing to the development of the autonomous software responsible for real-time flight data management and image processing. Notably, the software development involved the utilization of the OpenCV library within the Python environment.

Specifically, my responsibilities encompassed:

  • Image Processing and Object Detection: Implementing algorithms for the identification of target objects.
  • Decision-Making Algorithm Development: Utilizing real-time flight data in tandem with image processing for informed decision-making during autonomous flight.
  • Design and Fabrication of Task-Specific Systems: Utilizing CAD software and 3D printers to create specialized systems like the active air valve and discharging valve.
  • Development of Task-Specific Electronic Circuits: Crafting custom electronic circuits to support the quadcopter’s functionality.
  • Aerodynamic Analysis: Conducting in-depth analyses to optimize the quadcopter’s performance characteristics.

This project allowed for a holistic engagement in the development lifecycle of an autonomous quadcopter, integrating expertise across mechanical design, software development, and electronics to achieve the intricate objectives set forth by the competition.

GitHub repository: UAVTURKEY2020-Autonomous-Flight