Pteryx UAV[1] was a Polish Miniature Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) designed for civilian use. It was manufactured and sold by Trigger Composites.[2] The machine was both a flying remote control (RC) model and pre-programmed vehicle. It was awarded the Innowator Podkarpacia medal for innovative design in the category of micro-enterprises of the Podkarpacie region in 2010.[3]

Pteryx UAV
Pteryx UAV, with the camera mounted sideways.
General information
TypeUAV
RolePhotography
National originPoland
ManufacturerTrigger Composites

Origin

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The Pteryx UAV uses a custom derivation of the FLEXIPILOT software, designed by Aerial Robotics engineering group[4] for photomapping purposes and civilian use.

The avionics and flying platform are capable of full operational capability without using an active transmitter or ground station.

Capabilities

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Digital Surface Model of a motorway interchange construction site.
 
Bezmiechowa airfield 3D Digital Surface Model
 
4.5km2 ortophotomap extracted from data collected during 1h flight
  • Delivering data for precision agriculture by creating surface maps using mosaicking software
  • Construction site and long-range linear mapping (up to around 40 km both ways with 2-hour flight time, reserve included)[6]
  • Carrying custom research equipment

The camera mount contains either pre-installed compact digital camera or can be exchanged for other equipment.

The camera can be mounted down-looking (nadir photography) or side-looking (oblique photography).

The whole head can be tilted in flight using the RC transmitter, while reducing stabilization travel to one of the sides.

Capabilities

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  • Flying multiple missions per day without being required to reprogram the autopilot, using waypoints.
  • Exchangeable mission package
  • Single button operation
  • Fully enclosed camera head
  • Ability to accommodate a weight range 200g-1000g
  • Takeoff by catapult
  • Landing through use of a parachute

Camera

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The aircraft provides positions of the photos taken, and has storage for 8000 events. Ground-projected positions include the following error margins:

  • GPS position error up to 5m.
  • Altitude drift (up to 5m per 1 hour of flight)
  • Camera head stabilization precision (transients up to 5°)
  • Fuselage pitch due to turbulence (up to 8° during hot weather, typically 2° in winter)
  • Camera mounting error (typically 1–4° if not calibrated)
  • Heading/yaw error (the aircraft performs crabbing in presence of wind)

Typical orthophoto map precision (mean reprojection errors):

  • 10 centimetres (3.9 in) horizontal
  • 30 centimetres (12 in) vertical
  • around 2.5m global shift to be removed with a few locally measured points

Data processing strategies

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Several data processing approaches are possible depending on application:

  • Direct photo examination
  • Non-georeferenced image stitching using free software
  • Using free 3D modelling services, as mentioned in examples section
  • Importing each photo as ground overlay in Google Earth (semi-automatic with supplied software)
  • Using pre-paid service based on cloud computing, yielding a result in hours (delivers Orto photomap and optionally DSM)
  • Local processing using specialized GIS software created specifically for large scale image mosaicking (delivers Orto photomap and optionally DSM)

Aircraft components

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  • Fuselage
  • 3-section wings with mounting screws
  • Horizontal stabilizer section
  • Parachute

Other required equipment

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General characteristics

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Masses:

Dimensions:[7][8]

V speeds:

  • VC: around 50 km/h
  • VS: 34–38 km/h depending on TOW
  • VA: 120 km/h
  • VNE: 160 km/h

Flight altitude:

Handling:

References

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  1. ^ "Pteryx UAV". Archived from the original on 12 January 2012. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  2. ^ "Our products - Samolot bezzałogowy Pteryx" [Our products - Pteryx unmanned aircraft]. www.t-cs.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  3. ^ Olejnik, Marta (12 December 2010). "Innowator PodkarPacIa 2010 XII Podkarpackie Forum Innowacyjności" [Innovator of Podkarpacie 2010 XII Podkarpackie Innovation Forum] (PDF). Gazeta Politechniki [The University of Technology newspaper] (in Polish). No. 204. Rzeszów University of Technology. p. 15. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  4. ^ "Pteryx UAV". www6.aerialrobotics.eu. Archived from the original on 10 September 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Bezmiechowa 3D digital elevation model (AerialRobotics and CMP SfM Web Service)". Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
  6. ^ Motorway mapping mission (YouTube video)
  7. ^ "Pteryx UAV dimensions" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 September 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
  8. ^ "Pteryx UAV - Camera Head dimensions" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 September 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
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