New Calibration Method Using Low Cost MEM IMUs to Verify the Performance of UAV-Borne MMS Payloads

Spatial information plays a critical role in remote sensing and mapping applications such as environment surveying and disaster monitoring. An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-borne mobile mapping system (MMS) can accomplish rapid spatial information acquisition under limited sky conditions with better...

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Main Authors: Kai-Wei Chiang, Meng-Lun Tsai, El-Sheimy Naser, Ayman Habib, Chien-Hsun Chu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2015-03-01
Series:Sensors
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/15/3/6560
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author Kai-Wei Chiang
Meng-Lun Tsai
El-Sheimy Naser
Ayman Habib
Chien-Hsun Chu
author_facet Kai-Wei Chiang
Meng-Lun Tsai
El-Sheimy Naser
Ayman Habib
Chien-Hsun Chu
author_sort Kai-Wei Chiang
collection DOAJ
description Spatial information plays a critical role in remote sensing and mapping applications such as environment surveying and disaster monitoring. An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-borne mobile mapping system (MMS) can accomplish rapid spatial information acquisition under limited sky conditions with better mobility and flexibility than other means. This study proposes a long endurance Direct Geo-referencing (DG)-based fixed-wing UAV photogrammetric platform and two DG modules that each use different commercial Micro-Electro Mechanical Systems’ (MEMS) tactical grade Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs). Furthermore, this study develops a novel kinematic calibration method which includes lever arms, boresight angles and camera shutter delay to improve positioning accuracy. The new calibration method is then compared with the traditional calibration approach. The results show that the accuracy of the DG can be significantly improved by flying at a lower altitude using the new higher specification hardware. The new proposed method improves the accuracy of DG by about 20%. The preliminary results show that two-dimensional (2D) horizontal DG positioning accuracy is around 5.8 m at a flight height of 300 m using the newly designed tactical grade integrated Positioning and Orientation System (POS). The positioning accuracy in three-dimensions (3D) is less than 8 m.
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spelling doaj.art-4879977e6b334c43905278341795d4e22022-12-22T04:23:06ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202015-03-011536560658510.3390/s150306560s150306560New Calibration Method Using Low Cost MEM IMUs to Verify the Performance of UAV-Borne MMS PayloadsKai-Wei Chiang0Meng-Lun Tsai1El-Sheimy Naser2Ayman Habib3Chien-Hsun Chu4Department of Geomatics, National Cheng-Kung University, No.1, Daxue Rd., Tainan 70101, TaiwanDepartment of Geomatics, National Cheng-Kung University, No.1, Daxue Rd., Tainan 70101, TaiwanDepartment of Geomatics Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary City, AB T2N 1N4, CanadaLyles School of Civil Engineering, Purdue University, Lafayette city, IN 47907, USADepartment of Geomatics, National Cheng-Kung University, No.1, Daxue Rd., Tainan 70101, TaiwanSpatial information plays a critical role in remote sensing and mapping applications such as environment surveying and disaster monitoring. An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-borne mobile mapping system (MMS) can accomplish rapid spatial information acquisition under limited sky conditions with better mobility and flexibility than other means. This study proposes a long endurance Direct Geo-referencing (DG)-based fixed-wing UAV photogrammetric platform and two DG modules that each use different commercial Micro-Electro Mechanical Systems’ (MEMS) tactical grade Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs). Furthermore, this study develops a novel kinematic calibration method which includes lever arms, boresight angles and camera shutter delay to improve positioning accuracy. The new calibration method is then compared with the traditional calibration approach. The results show that the accuracy of the DG can be significantly improved by flying at a lower altitude using the new higher specification hardware. The new proposed method improves the accuracy of DG by about 20%. The preliminary results show that two-dimensional (2D) horizontal DG positioning accuracy is around 5.8 m at a flight height of 300 m using the newly designed tactical grade integrated Positioning and Orientation System (POS). The positioning accuracy in three-dimensions (3D) is less than 8 m.http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/15/3/6560UAVIMUGPSMMSDGcalibration
spellingShingle Kai-Wei Chiang
Meng-Lun Tsai
El-Sheimy Naser
Ayman Habib
Chien-Hsun Chu
New Calibration Method Using Low Cost MEM IMUs to Verify the Performance of UAV-Borne MMS Payloads
Sensors
UAV
IMU
GPS
MMS
DG
calibration
title New Calibration Method Using Low Cost MEM IMUs to Verify the Performance of UAV-Borne MMS Payloads
title_full New Calibration Method Using Low Cost MEM IMUs to Verify the Performance of UAV-Borne MMS Payloads
title_fullStr New Calibration Method Using Low Cost MEM IMUs to Verify the Performance of UAV-Borne MMS Payloads
title_full_unstemmed New Calibration Method Using Low Cost MEM IMUs to Verify the Performance of UAV-Borne MMS Payloads
title_short New Calibration Method Using Low Cost MEM IMUs to Verify the Performance of UAV-Borne MMS Payloads
title_sort new calibration method using low cost mem imus to verify the performance of uav borne mms payloads
topic UAV
IMU
GPS
MMS
DG
calibration
url http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/15/3/6560
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