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1. _____________________________________________ May 1, 2009 • Aircraft Problem Statement • Sniper • Analogy To determine the location of a sound emitting target from an aerial vehicle. Using acoustics and localization techniques, develop and test a remotely guided aerial vehicle that can identify the altitude and longitude coordinates of the source. After identifying the location of the source, the aerial vehicle must be able to capture an image with an onboard camera. This information must be transmitted remotely via wireless to a nearby base station. Motivation / Background This system would be valuable to the United States military and to Law Enforcement. Using an unmanned aerial vehicle to maneuver the equipment removes the risk to loss of life in the event of hostile confrontation. Also, this technology can help in ground operations worldwide by being able to quickly identify the location of sniper fire as well as other potentially unsafe situations for U.S. servicemen and women. In the Law Enforcement situation, law enforcement officials could use this technology to apprehend suspects, fugitives of justice, and other criminals. • Modifications Objectives • Localize acoustic sources, such as small arms fire within a radial distance of one mile. • Acquire an aerial image of the acoustic source. • Develop a cost-effective, aerial localization solution with the capability of rapid deployment and service. • Develop a small, lightweight, drop-in conversion package for quick conversion of existing unmanned aerial vehicles. Approach and Methods • Data • Analysis • This year’s team put in a successful collaborative effort to meet the goals of the project. Each member’s skills were identified and appropriate subgroups created. The team used tools such as the 6-3-5 Method for brainstorming and Selection Matrices to make the most appropriate decision on a problem. Detailed Pre/Post-Flight checklists were used to ensure a high level of safety. • Electronics Results and Prototype • This year’s team made a great deal of progress. Numerous modifications were made to the aircraft such as inverting the engine, adding new wheels, and creating a servo tray with hatch access. The electronics team redesigned the analog filter board, fixed the power scheme on the plane, and encased all of the circuit boards and DAQ for protection while maintaining easy access. The case design was made possible by developing a 3D prototype of the entire aircraft. Our team tested the noise impact at the microphones of 6 different propellers and a muffler. We were able to select a muffler-propeller configuration that significantly reduced the noise at the sensors. Both the trainer and primary aircrafts were flown successfully and a secondary pilot was trained using a flight simulator. Our team put together detailed aircraft and electronics manuals to ensure a smooth hand off to the next team. In-depth analysis of the results obtained from ground and in-flight testing will be their new challenge. • 3D Model • FlightTesting • Noise & Vibrations