RotoCam is an aerial surveillance platform that enables the end user to achieve situational awareness fast with minimal training. RotoCam's unique design allows it to be used in the field without bulky equipment and the long assembly time that plagues other aerial surveillance platforms.
The main challenge for the RotoCam was to achieve a flight altitude of 100 feet while maintaining a stable imaging platform. This was necessary in order to get usable intelligence from the imaging system. The 100 feet altitude represented a good target to fly above the average building height of many small cities in many areas around the world. This would also enable us to image over most trees and also get a good view of the surrounding area. Achieving adequate stability was the one of the toughest challenges as it required many iterations and modifications until successful flights were conducted.
The main challenge for the RotoCam was to achieve a flight altitude of 100 feet while maintaining a stable imaging platform. This was necessary in order to get usable intelligence from the imaging system. The 100 feet altitude represented a good target to fly above the average building height of many small cities in many areas around the world. This would also enable us to image over most trees and also get a good view of the surrounding area. Achieving adequate stability was the one of the toughest challenges as it required many iterations and modifications until successful flights were conducted.
|
|
Functional Requirements The function requirements used as guidelines for this projects design process and functionality quantification are critical to developing and evaluating the products success. The functional requirements are:
The stability margin is achieved using detachable wings design to reduce mass without compromising rotation rate. Using a large cell foam base the wings are very resilient and can take a beating, but if they do break are easy to replace or even repair. The wings are also hot swapable without the need to disassemble the RotoCam, enabling the quick assembly or replacement of the wings during use.
The RotoCam uses commercial off the shelf components for most of the systems enabling the simple replacement of parts without needing to special order them. This also reduces the overall cost of the components to around $400 a bargain especially for military and government agencies. Even with the cost of labor included and a profit margin the RotoCam is a great deal for any agency looking for a situational awareness boost.
RotoCam is truly a unique and qualified solution to the needs of law enforcement, search and rescue, and the military.
- Achieve and maintain an alitude of 100 ft.
- Maintain uninterrupted video at altitude.
- Achieve stable flight.
- Maintain low speed rotation to encompass 360 degree viewing.
- Must be reusable.
The stability margin is achieved using detachable wings design to reduce mass without compromising rotation rate. Using a large cell foam base the wings are very resilient and can take a beating, but if they do break are easy to replace or even repair. The wings are also hot swapable without the need to disassemble the RotoCam, enabling the quick assembly or replacement of the wings during use.
The RotoCam uses commercial off the shelf components for most of the systems enabling the simple replacement of parts without needing to special order them. This also reduces the overall cost of the components to around $400 a bargain especially for military and government agencies. Even with the cost of labor included and a profit margin the RotoCam is a great deal for any agency looking for a situational awareness boost.
RotoCam is truly a unique and qualified solution to the needs of law enforcement, search and rescue, and the military.
Team members from left to right Artemio Perez, Thomas Kelley, Aniruddha Katre, Christopher Ragsdale, Richard Rokita, and Saad Sarvana.