Autonomous Micro-aerial Vehicle Takeoff From and Landing on the Autonomous Moving Mobile Robot
Maxim Likhachev, Computer Science
In this project the student will work on the implementation of an approach to autonomous takeoff and landing by a micro-aerial vehicle. The micro-aerial vehicle is a small indoor quadrotor outfitted with on-board processing and all the sensors. The quadrotor is capable of about 10 minutes flight. The mobile robot is a segway-based robot (segbot) with on-board processing and all the sensors. It is capable of several hours of autonomous drive. The goal is to build a marsupial team: the segbot carrying the quadrotor. The student will be responsible for designing and fully implementing the software necessary to perform takeoff from and landing on the segbot. Depending on the background/skills of a student, the student may also be involved in the design and mounting the necessary hardware to assist in the takeoff/landing. The student must have good knowledge of C/C++, Linux and control theory. Previous exposure to robotics is a plus.